5Anolis Lizards of the Greater Antilles: Using phylogeny to test hypotheses An extended inquiry lesson where students "take a trip" to the Greater Antilles to figure out how the Anolis lizards on the islands might have evolved. They begin by observing the body structures and habitat of different species, then plot this data on a map of the islands to look for patterns in their distribution. From the patterns they observe, students develop alternative hypotheses about how these lizards colonized the islands and evolved. To test their hypotheses, they are given a phylogeny which they color code according to their previous data. By combining both types of data, students make a final hypothesis about how they think the lizards colonized the islands.
Student Activities
6Phylogenetic Trees Reading and Tutorial This tutorial will help students understand: how to read a phylogenetic tree and classify organisms based on their place in the tree. Appropriate for Honors/GT/AP level.
112005 Mini-assessment on evolutionary change The biology mini-assessments include a combination of selected response and constructed response items. Correct answers are provided for the selected response items. Since teachers and students score the constructed response items, the science rubric and anchor papers for each constructed response item are provided. Self scoring the constructed response items also will offer students opportunities to better understand how constructed response items are scored.
122005 Mini-assessment on interdependence of organisms The biology mini-assessments include a combination of selected response and constructed response items. Correct answers are provided for the selected response items. Since teachers and students score the constructed response items, the science rubric and anchor papers for each constructed response item are provided. Self scoring the constructed response items also will offer students opportunities to better understand how constructed response items are scored.
132006 Mini-assessment on evolutionary change The 2006 biology mini-assessment include a combination of selected response and constructed response items. Correct answers are provided for the selected response items. Since teachers and students score the constructed response items, the science rubric and anchor papers for each constructed response item are provided. Self scoring the constructed response items also will offer students opportunities to better understand how constructed response items are scored.
142006 Mini-assessment on interdependence of organisms The biology mini-assessments include a combination of selected response and constructed response items. Correct answers are provided for the selected response items. Since teachers and students score the constructed response items, the science rubric and anchor papers for each constructed response item are provided. Self scoring the constructed response items also will offer students opportunities to better understand how constructed response items are scored.
Student Activities
15Survival of the Sneakiest Cartoon Students can read this "Survival of the Sneakiest" cartoon and answer the questions that follow it about evolution and survival.
31Web Lab - Evolution Lab Virtual lab examines how natural selection works to bring about the evolution of adaptations
32Web Lab - PBS Education - The Mating Game Students help the contestants pass their genes down the evolutionary line as they discover the varied mating behaviors of living things
