Societal Implications & Activities
Evolution is connected in so many different ways to today's society. As teachers, it is important that we make a connection with society so our students can grasp the idea of evolution and how it is applied in our daily lives. Evolution is a topic that comes up quite often since it is an ongoing process that leads to many questions requiring many answers. For example, characteristics of people change gradually from one geographic area to another. However anthropologists see races as temporary, changing phenomena, products of genetic processes and natural selection since mating takes place. The races seen today are different from those of yesterday and will be different tomorrow. Following are some examples of societal implications activities/cases that can addressed in your classroom.
Science & Evolution Skin Colour
Science articles are extremely important to use in a classroom since it prepares the students in post-secondary education. As teachers, getting the students in the habit of reading, understanding, and analyzing a scientific article will aid them in their future careers. In this particular article, students learn about the pigment melanin, its function and how it is distributed to produce different levels of skin pigmentation. Students will also learn how changing environmental conditions can determine the level of skin pigmentation in evolving populations. Additionally, you can start this activity by looking around the classroom and asking the students to observe one another. Students can be paired to pose questions to their partner then take up as a class discussion.
* Note: This article does require a purchase for $1.94
Click on the link below to view the preview of the article.
Trip to the Zoo!
This activity promotes Environmental Education (E.E) in your classroom. E.E offers opportunities for rich, hands-on activities, real world and relevant learning across the curriculum. it also emphasizes specific critical thinking such as questioning, investigating, forming hypotheses, interpreting data, analyzing, developing conclusions, and solving problems.
Students will spend a day at the zoo where they have to complete a series of activities (ex. think/pair/share, observations, making scientific notes, etc) to help them formulate an evolutionary story.
*Click on the link below to direct you to the assignment outline/description.
Case studies!
Using case studies in your class can be a very effective classroom technique. Many students learn better through examples rather than reading a text of basic principles. Students can relate, and make connection with real life examples to help with their understanding. Below you can find variety of case studies that you can include in your classroom. These case studies provide a PDF download of the case (free) an overview, and teaching notes along with the answer key!
*Note: These case studies should be modified to best fit your students learning and needs!
Other Activities/Assessments.....
1- Modelling Natural Selection
Students can have difficult times understanding the mechanism of natural selection. One way where your students can get up and moving in your class is through this activity. There are two versions to this activity, however the end goal is one which is understanding natural selection. The documents provide a detailed description of the activity; materials, procedures, analysis, and a rubric.
Yogi Bears Version
Obtained from: M. Takla
Butterflies Version
Obtained from: M. Takla
3- Online Simulation
2- Candy Dish Selection
Another cool way to modelling natural selection. Students select candies from a bowl and have an opportunity to think about what traits brought about the “survival” of some candies.
*Note: Make sure you address any allergies in the classroom before running this lab!
Let your students try this cool online simulation as it guides them through the main basic concepts in the evolution unit.
4- Evolution "Telephone"
This quick activity is a fun way that helps students understand how DNA mutations work by using the childhood game of "Telephone" and relating it back to evolution. You can use this activity as a diagnostic assessment to determine students knowledge about evolution. Click on the link below to view a detailed description of the activity.
5- Summative Task
Teachers can use this summative task to assess their students on their learning. This is assessment of learning which will aid teachers to make judgements about the quality of student learning on the basis of established criteria. Summative assessments usually occur near the end of a period of learning. This task found below uses the R.A.F.T ( Role, Audience, Format, Topic) template in which STSE applications are included.
*R.A.F.T template adapted from M.Dubek
By: M. Guirguis
6- Kahoot Quiz
Teachers can use this kahoot "Evolution" quiz with their students as an assessment "for" learning. This formative assessment will guide you by determining the students progress during this unit. Provide the students with valuable feedback in order for students to make adjustments in their learning approaches, reflect on their learning, and set goals for themselves.
By: M. Guirguis