Related activities
The following is a list of related lessons and modules that can be used in
conjunction with Life Has a History. Since the module can be used
either as an introductory or as a concluding activity, we have provided
two sets of suggestions.
If you are using the tour as an introduction:
Below is a list of some of the major topics presented in the Tour.
Beneath each are supplemental classroom activities and modules
that can be used to expand upon each of the concepts.
1. Geologic Time
- Grades 5-8, 9-12: Understanding Geologic Time
This is an on-line informational module in which students gain a basic understanding of
geologic time, the evidence for events in Earth's history, relative and absolute dating
techniques, and the significance of the Geologic Time Scale. The module was produced by
the UC Museum of Paleontology as part of its Explorations Through Time project.
- Grades 5-8, 9-12: Sequencing Time
In this on-line module, students gain an understanding of relative and numerical time by
placing events in their own lives in sequence and assigning relative times to each event
to create a personal timeline. Students become familiar with the methods used by scientists
to develop the geologic time scale. The module is also part of the UCMP project,
Explorations Through Time.
2. Fossils
- Grades 5-8, 9-12: Getting Into the Fossil Record
This on-line module addresses: what a fossil and the fossil record are; how fossils are formed;
what factors prevent organisms from becoming fossils; and how paleontologists find fossils.
This module is also part of the UCMP project, Explorations Through Time.
- Grades 5-8, 9-12: Stories
From the Fossil Record
In this on-line module, students gain a basic understanding of how fossils can be used to
interpret the past. There are four different pathways to explore: biodiversity, geologic
time, paleoecology, and past lives. This module is also part of the UCMP project,
Explorations Through Time.
3. Relatedness
- Grades 5-8, 9-12: What Did T-Rex
Taste Like?
In this on-line module, students learn about phylogenetics, mapping traits, and using cladograms
to test hypotheses. The module is also part of the UCMP project, Explorations Through Time.
- Grades 9-12: Molecular
Biology and Primate Phylogenetics
This activity was written by Beth Kramer and is posted on the ENSI (Evolution and the Nature of
Science) Web site. In this activity, students compare amino acid sequences in cytochrome-c from
several different animals. They calculate the number of differences that are used to infer degrees
of relatedness. Students then compare this data to that of a cladogram, using the animal's
anatomical features.
4. Variation and Natural Selection
- Grades 5-9: Battle of the Beaks
Students learn about adaptive advantage based on beak function, by simulating birds competing
for various foods. This activity was adapted by Judy Scotchmoor and is posted on the UCMP Web site.
- Grades 7-12: Clip Birds
This activity was written by Al Janulaw and Judy Scotchmoor and is posted on the UCMP Web site.
The activity simulates evolution within a species. It can be used to illustrate the four primary
components necessary for evolution — variation, selection, inheritance, and time. Changes in
selective pressures within the environment can lead to speciation.
- Grades 9-12: Camouflage and Protective Coloration
This activity was written by Richard Filson and is posted on the Access Excellence Web site.
In the activity, students work in teams to gather class data on what provides better fitness in a
given environment, camouflage (demonstrated by using punched circles from the
newspaper on a want-ad page) or protective coloration (demonstrated by using
plain butcher paper circles on plain butcher paper).
If you are using the Life Has a History tour as a summary:
Here are some additional activities you might want to have the students try.
- Write an Tour Through Time Guide that includes flora, fauna of a particular time period,
complete with advertisements. Students can find information for this tour through the UCMP website.
- Write a story that compares what was going on during a particular time period compared to today.
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