Wildlife Conservation Center Aquarium 7th Grade:
Form
and Function in Marine Organism.
Grade
Level: 7th grade Life Science
Learning
Standard: NYS MST Standards
Standard 4: Physical Setting
Standard 6: Interconnectedness
Standard 7: Interdisciplinary problem solving
Topics
Covered by This Lesson:
Theory of Natural Selection
Lamarck Theory
Evidence of evolution.
Taxonomy and nomenclature
Pre- Visit:
Purpose:
Student will be exposed to importance of form and function. Animals and
plant are shape a certain
way to facilitate their ability to survive and adapt to their environment.
Student will be exposed to a variety of marine organism that differ in shape
and physical characteristics. Student will explore how their physical character
benefit or inhibit the ability of the organism to adapt and function in their
environment. Student will try and speculate on the evolution relationship
between the organism they encounter in the aquarium.
Objective:
Student will be able to…
Explore the importance of form in evolutionary history. How the ideas of form
and function influence Darwin
and Lamarck theories of evolution.
Materials
required:
1) Permission slips for parent
2) Adequate chaperones to accommodate the number of student going on the trip.
3) Handout that will instruct student through the exhibits.
Student
Learning Prerequisites:
Student must know the difference between theory and law
Student must have an understanding of the theories of evolution and the evidence
that are used to support and dispute these theories.
Visit:
Students and chaperone will explore the different exhibits. Student will record
the a physical characteristic of the organism they encounter and make notes
of similarities and differences. For example, fur vs. hair, cartilage vs.
bone, and calcium carbonate shell vs. chitinous exoskeleton. If time and resources
allow student will try and collect beach samples for description and analysis.
Student should be equipped with a text that helps them to identify the organism
they might find on the beach or near by shore.
Post-
Visit:
Student will look at the sum total of their observations and organize
their finding into a chart or graph. They will look for similarities and differences
and speculate about a common ancestry. Student will explore where a particular
body sharp or other physical characteristic gave the organism an advantage
for survival.
Possible
questions:
1) What animals that re closely related to human but lack humanoid physical
characteristics?
2) What is it about Homo sapiens that made them more adaptable than earlier
man?
MSTEP
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