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Science lesson plan · 10th grade (Year 11 in England) · 60 minutes

Evidence for evolution and how new species form

Cells, genetics and evolution

CCSS NGSS.HS-LS4-1CCSS NGSS.SEP 7England: GCSE Combined Science: Inheritance, variation and evolution

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Evidence for evolution and how new species form.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Natural selection and resistance

Leads to: Read cladograms and shared derived traits

Materials: Microscope images or slides, Cell diagrams, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 6 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Natural selection and resistance). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. What is selective breeding? (animals choosing their own mates in the wild / feeding animals more food / cloning one plant / humans choosing parents with useful characteristics to breed) → humans choosing parents with useful characteristics to breedPrompt: Farmers have done this for thousands of years.
  2. A population of 100 bacteria contains 5% that are resistant to an antibiotic. The antibiotic kills all the others. How many bacteria survive? → 5Prompt: Only the resistant ones survive.
  3. What is the original source of new variation in a population? (mutations in DNA / learning new skills / injuries / exercise) → mutations in DNAPrompt: It is a change in the genetic code.

Hook · 6 min

  • Show a microscope image of cells and ask what students think they are looking at.
  • Share the objective: Evidence for evolution and how new species form. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 12 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Approximate % difference between human DNA and other primates: chimpanzee 1.2 %, orangutan 3.1 %, rhesus macaque 7 %. Which primate shares the most recent common ancestor with humans?
  • Step 1: The smallest difference is 1.2 %.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: chimpanzee
  • Answer: chimpanzee
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 12 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. Approximate % difference between human DNA and other primates: rhesus macaque 7 %, orangutan 3.1 %, chimpanzee 1.2 %. Which primate shares the most recent common ancestor with humans? (orangutan / rhesus macaque / chimpanzee) → chimpanzeePrompt: Fewer DNA differences means less time since the two lines split.
  2. Bacteria that resist the antibiotic used against them appear within years. Why is this evidence for evolution? (It shows bacteria never mutate / Bacteria choose to become resistant / Antibiotics create the resistance gene on purpose / We can watch natural selection change a population in real time) → We can watch natural selection change a population in real timePrompt: Bacteria reproduce very quickly.

You do: independent practice · 17 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 7 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Which scientist developed the theory of evolution by natural selection at the same time as Darwin? (Isaac Newton / Alfred Russel Wallace / Jean-Baptiste Lamarck / Gregor Mendel) → Alfred Russel WallacePrompt: He studied animals in South-East Asia.
  2. Approximate % difference between human DNA and other primates: gorilla 1.6 %, orangutan 3.1 %, chimpanzee 1.2 %. Which primate shares the most recent common ancestor with humans? (chimpanzee / orangutan / gorilla) → chimpanzeePrompt: Fewer DNA differences means less time since the two lines split.

Watch out for

  • Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
  • Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Natural selection and resistance.
  • Use concrete materials: microscope images or slides.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Move on to: Read cladograms and shared derived traits.
  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-10.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Evidence for evolution and how new species form

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Which scientist developed the theory of evolution by natural selection at the same time as Darwin?

    • A. Isaac Newton
    • B. Jean-Baptiste Lamarck
    • C. Gregor Mendel
    • D. Alfred Russel Wallace

  2. Question 2

    Approximate % difference between human DNA and other primates: gorilla 1.6 %, orangutan 3.1 %, rhesus macaque 7 %. Which primate shares the most recent common ancestor with humans?

    • A. rhesus macaque
    • B. orangutan
    • C. gorilla

  3. Question 3

    Bacteria that resist the antibiotic used against them appear within years. Why is this evidence for evolution?

    • A. Bacteria choose to become resistant
    • B. Antibiotics create the resistance gene on purpose
    • C. It shows bacteria never mutate
    • D. We can watch natural selection change a population in real time

  4. Question 4

    Approximate % difference between human DNA and other primates: chimpanzee 1.2 %, orangutan 3.1 %, gorilla 1.6 %. Which primate shares the most recent common ancestor with humans?

    • A. chimpanzee
    • B. gorilla
    • C. orangutan

  5. Question 5

    Approximate % difference between human DNA and other primates: gorilla 1.6 %, chimpanzee 1.2 %, rhesus macaque 7 %. Which primate shares the most recent common ancestor with humans?

    • A. rhesus macaque
    • B. chimpanzee
    • C. gorilla

  6. Question 6

    Why are fossils good evidence for evolution?

    • A. Deeper (older) rock layers show simpler organisms that changed gradually over time
    • B. Fossils show that species never change
    • C. Fossils are all the same age
    • D. Every organism that ever lived became a fossil

  7. Question 7

    Approximate % difference between human DNA and other primates: chimpanzee 1.2 %, rhesus macaque 7 %, orangutan 3.1 %. Which primate shares the most recent common ancestor with humans?

    • A. orangutan
    • B. chimpanzee
    • C. rhesus macaque

  8. Question 8

    Approximate % difference between human DNA and other primates: chimpanzee 1.2 %, gorilla 1.6 %, orangutan 3.1 %. Which primate shares the most recent common ancestor with humans?

    • A. orangutan
    • B. gorilla
    • C. chimpanzee

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Answer key: Evidence for evolution and how new species form

  1. 1. D. Alfred Russel Wallace

  2. 2. C. gorilla

  3. 3. D. We can watch natural selection change a population in real time

  4. 4. A. chimpanzee

  5. 5. B. chimpanzee

  6. 6. A. Deeper (older) rock layers show simpler organisms that changed gradually over time

  7. 7. B. chimpanzee

  8. 8. C. chimpanzee