Performance Objective:
When shown a copy of “The Origin of Species,” students will correctly identify at least two details about Charles Darwin (e.g. he was the author, he laid out the theory of biological evolution, he sailed to the Galapagos, etc.). Given a video resource about the Galapagos Island finches that Darwin studied, students will identify at least two pieces of evidence of species changing over time.
Content: Journal Prompt:
"If fossils are dug up from different depths, how do you tell which fossil is oldest?
Explain your answer.
Also make a diagram to support your answer."
Galapagos
The Galapagos Islands off Ecuador famously provided an outdoor laboratory for Charles Darwin as he developed his theory of evolution by natural selection.
The movie "Voyage to the Galapagos" is about Darwin and the scientific theory of biological evolution.
If you will watch the full movie (~60 minutes), do one of the following:
Each group gets a table like this in a sheet protector and a whiteboard marker. Each student fills a row and then passes the page to the next student at the group. Continue this throughout the movie.
Create a table like this in your journal and leave at least 3 lines in each row. Fill in the table during the movie.
Use a printed a table like this for each student. Each student fills in their own table during the movie.
In any case, while you are watching the full Voyage to the Galapagos Movie (~60 min), fill in the table.
After the movie, or if you watch the short movie (~15 min), read the Finches Caught in the Act of Becoming a New Species article, then answer the following questions with your group and/or in your journal.
When did a lone new male of a different species arrive on the island?
When the male mated with the local finch females what trait did the offspring have?
What was considered surprising about the rate of evolution occurring?
Why is there not a strict rule anymore (more of a "guideline") about the definition of species?
What evidence did scientists use to show the new finch was really a different species?
What major advantage allowed the new hybrids to survive?
Hybridization of genes may be faster than what usual process for evolution?
After answering these questions, review the Finches Caught in the Act PowerPoint.
Follow-Through Activities:
The teacher again shows the copy of “The Origin of Species” and asks students to name the author, tell what a finch is, and explain where the Galapagos are.
Lesson Plan Summary:
The behaviorist version of the Voyage to the Galapagos lesson involves students learning from a movie and recalling information that was presented. Instructional strategies include delivering a didactic introduction to the creator of the theory of biological evolution, presenting a movie in which the movie narrator provides information, distributing a factual recall worksheet for students to document their learning, and providing corrected answers and scores on the worksheet. These instructional strategies support the behaviorist learning theory in that they are focused on the delivery of information and the recall of correct information. The cognitivist version of the lesson involves students creating and filling in a chart with somewhat more open-ended prompts related to the movie. Students then apply and connect this learning to a recent article about the Galapagos finches. These instructional strategies support the cognitive learning theory in that they encourage students to build upon prior knowledge and make mental connections.