Origins of Life: Teacher Packet Compiled by: Morehead State University Star Theatre with help from Bethany DeMoss
Table of Contents Table of Contents 1 Corresponding Standards 2 Vocabulary 5 How Big is It? (Middle Grades) 6 DNA Alias (High School) 10 References 14 1
Corresponding Standards Next Generation Science Standards 7-LS1-1 8-LS4-2 8-LS4-6 HS-LS1-1 HS-LS3-2 HS-LS4-1 HS-LS4-3 Conduct an investigation to provide evidence that living things are made of cells, either one cell or many different numbers and types of cells. [Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on developing evidence that living things are made of cells, distinguishing between living and non-living cells, and understanding that living things may be made of one cell or many and varied cells.] Apply scientific ideas to construct an explanation for the anatomical similarities and differences among modern organisms and between modern and fossil organisms to infer evolutionary relationships. [Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on explanations of the evolutionary relationships among organisms in terms of similarity or differences of the gross appearance of anatomical structures.] Use mathematical representations to support explanations of how natural selection may lead to increases and decreases of specific traits in populations over time. [Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on using mathematical models, probability statements, and proportional reasoning to support explanations of trends in changes to populations over time.] [Assessment Boundary: Assessment does not include Hardy Weinberg calculations.] Construct an explanation based on evidence for how the structure of DNA determines the structure of proteins which carry out the essential functions of life through systems of specialized cells. [Assessment Boundary: Assessment does not include identification of specific cell or tissue types, whole body systems, specific protein structures and functions, or the biochemistry of protein synthesis.] Make and defend a claim based on evidence that inheritable genetic variations may result from: (1) new genetic combinations through meiosis, (2) viable errors occurring during replication, and/or (3) mutations caused by environmental factors. [Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on using data to support arguments for the way variation occurs.] [Assessment Boundary: Assessment does not include the phases of meiosis or the biochemical mechanism of specific steps in the process.] Communicate scientific information that common ancestry and biological evolution are supported by multiple lines of empirical evidence. [Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on a conceptual understanding of the role each line of evidence has relating to common ancestry and biological evolution. Examples of evidence could include similarities in DNA sequences, anatomical structures, and order of appearance of structures in embryological development.] Apply concepts of statistics and probability to support explanations that organisms with an advantageous heritable trait tend to increase in proportion to organisms lacking this trait. [Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on analyzing 2
HS-LS4-4 HS-LS4-5 HS-ESS1-2 HS-ESS1-5 HS-ESS1-6 HS-ESS2-7 shifts in numerical distribution of traits and using these shifts as evidence to support explanations.] [Assessment Boundary: Assessment is limited to basic statistical and graphical analysis. Assessment does not include allele frequency calculations.] HS-LS4-4. Construct an explanation based on evidence for how natural selection leads to adaptation of populations. [Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on using data to provide evidence for how specific biotic and abiotic differences in ecosystems (such as ranges of seasonal temperature, long-term climate change, acidity, light, geographic barriers, or evolution of other organisms) contribute to a change in gene frequency over time, leading to adaptation of populations.] HS-LS4-5. Evaluate the evidence supporting claims that changes in environmental conditions may result in: (1) increases in the number of individuals of some species, (2) the emergence of new species over time, and (3) the extinction of other species. [Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on determining cause and effect relationships for how changes to the environment such as deforestation, fishing, application of fertilizers, drought, flood, and the rate of change of the environment affect distribution or disappearance of traits in species.] Construct an explanation of the Big Bang theory based on astronomical evidence of light spectra, motion of distant galaxies, and composition of matter in the universe. [Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on the astronomical evidence of the red shift of light from galaxies as an indication that the universe is currently expanding, the cosmic microwave background as the remnant radiation from the Big Bang, and the observed composition of ordinary matter of the universe, primarily found in stars and interstellar gases (from the spectra of electromagnetic radiation from stars), which matches that predicted by the Big Bang theory (3/4 hydrogen and 1/4 helium).] Evaluate evidence of the past and current movements of continental and oceanic crust and the theory of plate tectonics to explain the ages of crustal rocks. [Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on the ability of plate tectonics to explain the ages of crustal rocks. Examples include evidence of the ages oceanic crust increasing with distance from mid-ocean ridges (a result of plate spreading) and the ages of North American continental crust increasing with distance away from a central ancient core (a result of past plate interactions).] Apply scientific reasoning and evidence from ancient Earth materials, meteorites, and other planetary surfaces to construct an account of Earth s formation and early history. [Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on using available evidence within the solar system to reconstruct the early history of Earth, which formed along with the rest of the solar system 4.6 billion years ago. Examples of evidence include the absolute ages of ancient materials (obtained by radiometric dating of meteorites, moon rocks, and Earth s oldest minerals), the sizes and compositions of solar system objects, and the impact cratering record of planetary surfaces.] Construct an argument based on evidence about the simultaneous coevolution of Earth systems and life on Earth. [Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on the 3
dynamic causes, effects, and feedbacks between the biosphere and Earth s other systems, whereby geoscience factors control the evolution of life, which in turn continuously alters Earth s surface. Examples of include how photosynthetic life altered the atmosphere through the production of oxygen, which in turn increased weathering rates and allowed for the evolution of animal life; how microbial life on land increased the formation of soil, which in turn allowed for the evolution of land plants; or how the evolution of corals created reefs that altered patterns of erosion and deposition along coastlines and provided habitats for the evolution of new life forms.] [Assessment Boundary: Assessment does not include a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms of how the biosphere interacts with all of Earth s other systems.] 4
Vocabulary: Origins of Life Vocabulary Words Big Bang Meteorites DNA Star Bacteria Microorganisms Symbiosis Eukaryotic Cell Mass Extinction Pseudo extinct Natural Selection Mars Definition theory that deduces a birth of the universe from the observed expansion of the universe, cosmic background radiation, abundance of the elements and the laws of physics mass of stone or metal that has reached the Earth from outer space (deoxyribonucleic acid) nucleic acid that contains genetic information used in development and functioning of organisms a gaseous mass usually visible as a small bright point of light one-celled organisms (spherical, spiral, or rodshaped appearing single or in chains) from the kingdom Monera any organism too small to be viewed by eye the living together of two dissimilar organisms a cell with a nuclear membrane and organelles extinction of a large number of species within a relatively short period of geological time species occurs when all members of the species are extinct, but members of a daughter species remain alive the process by which forms of life having traits that better enable them to adapt to specific environmental pressures fourth planet from the sun, terrestrial (earth like) planet 5
How Big is It? From: Cell Exploration Activity 6
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DNA Alias From: DNA Activity Packet 10
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References for Activities How Big is It? And DNA Alias "DNA." DNA. New York, NY: Kids Discover, 1999. 116-25. Print. 14