Name:__________________________________ s Evolution Socratic Seminar Packet Period:

______

Evolution Packet

DUE ________________________________________!!!

EVOLUTION PERFORMANCE TASK:

Goal: STUDENTS WILL WRITE AN ESSAY AND Participate in a college-level Socratic
seminar on evolution using evidence from texts and documents discussed in class
in order to answer the following essential questions:
1. What is evolution?
2. Whose ideas helped contribute to evolution?
3. Describe at least 3 pieces of evidence for evolution. Be sure to explain what the
evidence shows.
4. How have evolution, adaptation and natural selection have led to who we are

EVOLUTION PACKET CRITERIA FOR SUCCESS:

_____/__40 __ Complete ALL class work from Days 1, 2, 3 and
4
_____/__20 __ Complete ALL homework from Days 1 and 2
_____/__10 __ Use Accountable Talk in an Evolution Socratic
Seminar
_____/__10 __ Write a level 4 essay answering the 4 essential
questions
_____/__10 __ Focus: follow directions and be 100% on task
_____/__10 __ Behavior: Use six-inch voices and stay in seat
at all times
Evolution Unit: Day 1 Classwork
1

Name:__________________________________ s Evolution Socratic Seminar Packet Period:

______

1. Todays
objective.

2. What does
this mean in
your own
words?

3. How will you

be assessed at
the end of
class?

4. What is a real
world
application of
this
information?

SWBAT Darwins
theory of
evolution in order
to explain a
scenario.

Darwin Videos Questions

1. What were some examples of differences in animals Darwin saw from one
island to the next?

2. What did Darwin argue in his book The Origin of Species?

3. What are three facts that you learned from this video?
1.

2.

3.

4. How does the Homer Simpson video demonstrate Darwins hypothesis of

evolution?

Name:__________________________________ s Evolution Socratic Seminar Packet Period:

______

Evolution Unit: Day 1 Cornell Notes

Part 1: Read and ANNOTATE using the steps below.

Annotation Steps
Underline key words and write what you know
Circle words you dont know and try to define with context clues
Make connections to prior knowledge

Evolution is process through which organisms change over time. The

theory of evolution was first introduced by Charles Darwin in 1859 in his
book, The Origin of Species. In this book, Darwin claimed that all life
including bees, bananas, humans, etc descended from one common
ancestor and evolved to create new species over time. Darwin came up with
the theory by studying fossils and wildlife in different parts of the world.
Specifically, Darwin studied the fitness of these organisms; which is the
ability of an organism to survive and reproduce in its environment.
1. What is evolution?

2. Who first introduced the idea of evolution?

3

Name:__________________________________ s Evolution Socratic Seminar Packet Period:

______

______________________________________
3. Define fitness.
4. There are 3 types of polar bears: ones with thick coats, ones with thin
coats, and ones with medium coats. It is fall, soon to be winter. The
temperatures are dropping rapidly and the bears must be kept warm,
otherwise they will freeze to death. Many of the bears have had 2
cubs each, but due to the extreme temperatures, many mothers only
have one cub left.
Which type of fur do you think is best for the bears? Why?

One cause of evolution is the process of natural selection. Natural

selection is sometimes referred to as survival of the fittest. In natural
selection, organisms that are more fit (have genes that are more
competitive) in a population survive, while organisms whose genes cannot
compete die out. Over time, the population evolves, or changes, as the
organisms with good genes become the entire population.
5. What is natural selection?

6. How did natural selection occur in the bear story you read earlier?

An adaptation is a change in an organism that allows it to better survive in

an environment. For example, in the video we watched some Lagunas
adapted longer tails and the ability to swim in order to get food underwater.
This didnt happen over night. This adaptation took several hundreds of
years.
7. What is an adaptation? Give an example.

8. The bears with thicker fur were better able to survive the winter. What
is one adaptation these bears would want for the hotter summer
months?
4

Name:__________________________________ s Evolution Socratic Seminar Packet Period:

______

Name:__________________________________ s Evolution Socratic Seminar Packet Period:

______

Part 2: Peppered moth activity!

DIRECTIONS: The directions for this activity are very important!

Read with detail!
1. Pair up with ONE person sitting at YOUR table (do not get up and
move). One person needs to be the predator and one person needs to
be the data collector. Fill in the blanks with your names:
_________________________________ is the data collector and
_______________________________ is the predator.
2. You are about to receive a plastic bag filled with black and white dotes.
The dots of paper represent different colored insects on a tree. The
black construction paper represents the trunk of the tree. Once you
have read this, silently raise your hand for your materials.
3. Data collector, carefully pour the dots on the black sheet of
construction paper so that they are evenly spaced on the sheet.
Predator, you need to close your eyes until the data collector tells you
to open them.
4. Data collector, let the predator know that they will have only 10
seconds to pick up as many insects (dots) that they see and place
them to the side of the paper. When the predator is ready, say go
and count to ten.
5. Once the time is up, data collector, count how many white insects and
how many black insects the predator grabbed.
Number of white insects collected _________

Number of black insects

collected _________
Post-Lab Questions
1.

What color dots were most often collected?

2.
How does the characteristic of color affect the survival rate of
insects? (Hint, if the predator is a bird and the dots are insects,
which are you more likely to eat and why?)

Name:__________________________________ s Evolution Socratic Seminar Packet Period:

______

3. Using what you know about natural selection, what would you
say would be the color characteristic of future generations of
insects living on dark colored tree trunks? Why? (Include the term
natural selection in your response!)

Name:__________________________________ s Evolution Socratic Seminar Packet Period:

______

Homework for Evolution day 1

1. The theory of biological evolution
includes the concept that
(1) Species of organisms found on Earth
today have adaptations not always
found in earlier species
(2) Fossils are the remains of presentday species and were all formed at
the same time
(3) Individuals may acquire physical
characteristics after birth and pass
these acquired characteristics on to
their offspring
(4) The smallest organisms are always

eliminated by the larger organisms

within the ecosystem
Defend your answer choice:
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
_________________

Practice #2 CHARLES DARWIN

father

evolution

change

adaptation

Beagle

Galapagos

environment

South America

Directions: Use the word bank above to fill in the blank space
1. Darwin sailed around the world on the HMS
_____________________________________
2. Darwin studied the variation of organisms on the
______________________________ islands
3. Darwin is considered to be the __________________________________ of
evolution
4. A long neck to eat tall plants is considered an
_________________________________________
5. Adaptations allow organisms to better survive in their
_______________________________
6. The Galapagos Islands are located off the coast of
___________________ ________________
7. A change is species over time is called
_____________________________________________
8

Name:__________________________________ s Evolution Socratic Seminar Packet Period:

______

Directions: Choose which of the following will survive and reproduce

(fitness)
1. In a warm environment, dogs that have:
a. Thick fur
b. No fur
c. White fur
2. A frog that rests on dark green leaves:
a. Bright blue skin
b. Rough skin
c. Dark green skin

Evolution Unit Day 2: Evidence for Evolution

1. Todays
objective.

2. What does
this mean in
your own
words?

3. How will
you be
assessed at
the end of
class?

4. What is a
real world
application of
this
information?

SWBAT describe
and analyze 4
types of
evidence for
evolution.
Cornell

Notes: Evidence for Evolution

Name:__________________________________ s Evolution Socratic Seminar Packet Period:

______

EVIDENCE FOR EVOLUTION: JOT IT LIKE ITS HOTT

What are the four main types of evidence for evolution? Define each one in your own
words.

10

Name:__________________________________ s Evolution Socratic Seminar Packet Period:

______

Evolution Unit Day 2: CLASSWORK

SAY

MEAN

What IS the evidence?

(Copy or paraphrase the
text)

What does this mean?

Rewrite the SAY in your
own words.

MATTER
How is this evidence for
EVOLUTION (change in species
over time)

EXAMPLE EVIDENCE:

Evidence #1: Embryology

Evidence #2: Anatomy

Evidence #3: Fossils

Evidence #4: Biochemical

(DNA)

11

Name:__________________________________ s Evolution Socratic Seminar Packet Period:

______

12

Name:__________________________________ s Evolution Socratic Seminar Packet Period:

______

Do you get it? DAY 2: EVIDENCE FOR EVOLUTION Problems

1. The illustrations below show vestigial pelvic bones of a baleen whale and
vestigial hind limb bones of an
extinct whale.
The presence of these bones in the
baleen whale and extinct whale
provides evidence
of which of the following?

A. Whales can travel on land when

necessary.
B. Whales evolved from four-legged animals.
C. Whales have functional legs that are hidden by fat and skin.
D. Whales are developing into animals with four functioning limbs.

2. Similar structures are present in the embryos of fish, chickens, and

rabbits.
In fish, these structures develop into gills, but in chickens and rabbits, they
either
disappear or develop into other body parts later in embryonic development.
Which of the statements below best explains the presence of these
structures in the embryos of all three species?
A. The embryos of the three species are similar in size.
B. Breathing structures are similar among the young of the three species.
C. The three species have a common ancestor with these embryonic
structures.
D. The reproductive mechanisms are similar among the adults of the
three species.
3. Caytonia is an extinct plant that existed between 200 and 140 million
years ago. It
had reproductive structures that resemble structures in modern flowering
plants. How do scientists know about the structures of this ancient extinct
plant?
A. Scientists study the DNA sequence of Caytonia.
B. Scientists genetically engineer modern plants to produce Caytonia.
13

Name:__________________________________ s Evolution Socratic Seminar Packet Period:

______

C. Scientists excavate and examine the fossilized remains of Caytonia.

D. Scientists observe the adaptations of plants in habitats resembling those
of Caytonia.

4. Frogs, lizards, and birds all have a similar arrangement of bones in their
limbs. Which of the following does this similarity most likely indicate about
these animals?
A. They move in the same way.
B. They have a common ancestry.
C. They evolved at the same time.
D. They are comparable in size as adults.

14

Name:__________________________________ s Evolution Socratic Seminar Packet Period:

______
I did my HW! This ticket
allows:
__________________________
to attend the Evolution
Please note: you must complete this homework in
Socratic Seminar this
order to participate in the Evolution Socratic seminar
week.
next class. No excuses.

DAY 2 HOMEWORK: JOT DOTS

Directions: Use your NOTES and RESEARCH

from this week to answer EACH question.
Each bullet point should be 10 words or less.
1. What is evolution?
2. Who came up with the theory of
evolution? Describe where and
how he got his findings.

3. Describe at least 3 pieces of

evidence for evolution. Be sure to
explain what the evidence shows.

4. How have evolution, adaptation

and natural selection led to who we
are today?

15

Name:__________________________________ s Evolution Socratic Seminar Packet Period:

______

16

Name:__________________________________ s Evolution Socratic Seminar Packet Period:

______

Evolution Unit Day 3: Socratic Seminar (Separate TEST GRADE)

1. Todays objective.

2. What does
this mean in
your own words?

3. How will you be

assessed at the end
of class?

4. What is a real
world application
of this
information?

SWBAT discuss the

evolution units 4
essential questions
with their peers in a
Socratic seminar using
accountable talk.

Seminar GRADING EXPECTATIONS and RUBRIC

1. Student uses accountable talk to answer and ask questions.

100% engagement
Actively listen to others (HEAD UP with EYE
CONTACT)
Respectful language
Challenge ideas, not people
2. Student takes notes on the back of the packet during the
discussion.
2. Student does the following each time s/he shares out:
A. Build off what was just said
B. Reference notes in your packet or your PEER
C. Explain why what you shared is important

Total
Comments

NEED HELP? Check out these Socratic Seminar Sentence Starters

17

Name:__________________________________ s Evolution Socratic Seminar Packet Period:

______

Ask A Clarifying Question

Im not sure I understand what youre

saying. Can you restate what you just
said?

So what youre saying is

Can you give us an example to illustrate

your point?
Disagree With a Classmate

State Your Own Point

I think that what the author means in the

second paragraph is

I want to draw our attention to the passage

on page ________, where the author says

I like the idea that

Agree With a Classmate

I disagree with _________________,

because

I agree with ______________________, and

heres why

I want to respond to
________________________, because I think
that

I really like what _______________ said,

because

I had a similar interpretation

Lets take a closer look at

I hear what everyone is saying, but

Thats true, because the author also states

in paragraph ________ that

TALK IT OUT: Socratic Seminar NOTES sheet

QUESTION 1: What is evolution?

Scholar: ________________________________
Point:
_________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
QUESTION 2: Who came up with the theory of evolution? Describe
where and how he got his findings.
Scholar: ________________________________
Point:
_________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
QUESTION 3: Describe at least 3 pieces of evidence for evolution. Be
sure to explain.
18

Name:__________________________________ s Evolution Socratic Seminar Packet Period:

______

Scholar: ________________________________
Point:
_________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
QUESTION 4: How have evolution, adaptation and natural selection
led to who we are today?
Scholar: ________________________________
Point:
_________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

19

Name:__________________________________ s Evolution Socratic Seminar Packet Period:

______

Evolution day 3 homework: Evolution ESSAY

Directions: Use your Say, Mean, Matter
chart and notes from classwork and
homework to write an essay that answers
the following questions.

1. What is evolution?
2. Whose ideas helped contribute to
evolution?
3. Describe at least 3 pieces of evidence
for evolution. Be sure to explain what the
evidence shows.

Are you at a level 4 ANSWER? Make

sure in your answer that you...
Use scientific vocabulary
(evolution, adaptation, natural
selection, evidence, etc.)
Answers ALL 4 questions.
Use information from class and
homework to support the response.

Use complete, logical sentences.

4. Explain how evolution, adaptation and

_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
20

Name:__________________________________ s Evolution Socratic Seminar Packet Period:

______

_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

21

Name:__________________________________ s Evolution Socratic Seminar Packet Period:

______

Evolution Unit Day 4: Survival of the Fittest

1. Todays
objective.

2. What does this

mean in your own
words?

3. How will you be

assessed at the end
of class?

4. What is a real
world application of
this information?

SWBAT analyze
the effects of
genetic variation
and population
size on species
survival.

Survival of the Fittest - Reflection

1. Which group is the most fit?

2. What made this group better able to survive in the

environment? List as much evidence as you can to support
your answer.

Cornell

Notes: Evolution and Variation

22

Name:__________________________________ s Evolution Socratic Seminar Packet Period:

______

Independent Practice
1. Which process is least likely to add tospecies
the variety of traits in a population?
(4) A species that has a limited life span
(1) Deletion of bases from DNA
(2) Genetic engineering
6. Which population of organisms
(3) Accurate replication of DNA
would be in greatest danger of
(4) Exchange of segments between
becoming extinct?
chromosomes
(1) A population of organisms
having few variations living in
2. In an environment that undergoes
a stable environment.
frequent change, species that reproduce
(2) A population of organisms
sexually may have an advantage over
having few variations living in
species that reproduce asexually because
an unstable environment.
the sexually reproducing species produce
(3) A population of organisms
(1) More offspring in each generation
having many variations living
(2) Identical offspring
in a stable environment.
(3) Offspring with more variety
(4) A population of organisms
(4) New species of offspring in each
having many variations living
generation
in an unstable environment.
3. If mitotic cell division is the only way a
particular species of single-celled organism
can reproduce, it is most likely that
(1) Mutations can not occur in this species
(2) The rate of evolution in this species is
slower than in one that reproduces sexually
(3) The number of organisms of this species
in an area will remain constant
(4) This species belongs to the animal
kingdom
4. Which characteristics of a population
would most likely indicate the lowest
potential for evolutionary change in that
population?
(1) Sexual reproduction and few mutations
(2) Sexual reproduction and many
mutations
(3) Asexual reproduction and few mutations
(4) Asexual reproduction and many
mutations
5. Which species is most likely to survive
changing environmental conditions?
(1) A species that has few variations
(2) A species that reproduces sexually
(3) A species that competes with similar

7. The Florida panther, a member

of the cat family, has a population
of fewer than 100 individuals and
has limited genetic variation.
Which inference based on this
information is valid?
(1) These animals will begin to
evolve rapidly.
(2) Over time, these animals will
become less likely to survive in a
changing environment.
(3) These animals are easily able
to adapt to the environment.
(4) Over time, these animals will
become more likely to be
resistant to disease.
8. Which factor could be the
cause of the other three in an
animal species?
(1) The inability of the species to
adapt to changes
(2) A lack of genetic variability in
the species
(3) Extinction of the species
(4) A decrease in the survival rate

23

Name:__________________________________ s Evolution Socratic Seminar Packet Period:

______

of the species

24