Standard S7L5

Students will examine (look at) the

evolution (change over time) of living
organisms through inherited (present
at birth; from parents) characteristics
(uniqueness; individuality) that
promote (help; encourage) survival of
organisms and the survival of
successive (later) generations (age
groups) of their offspring (babies;
children).
 Element B
Describe (Explain; Tell) ways in which
species on earth have evolved
(changed) due to natural selection (the
process through which members of a
species that are better suited to their
environment survive and reproduce at a
higher rate than other members of their
species).
Think about other things that have
changed over the years
 Essential Question

How have the physical characteristics of

organisms changed over time? (Darwins
finches, giraffe neck length, peppered
moths)
 The Theory of Evolution
Many of today's ideas about
evolution come from the work of
Charles Darwin.
He described how organisms
might have changed over time.
He is known as the father of
evolution.
 Charles Darwin
Born in 1809. The same day as Abraham
Lincoln.
He was a naturalist studying geology and
proposed the idea that everything comes
from a common ancestor.
He was asked by the captain of the Beagle
to take an expedition to chart the coastline
of South America.
 Charles Darwin
Darwin identified 13 species of
finches in the Galpagos Islands.
He knew of only one species of
this bird on the mainland of South
America, 600 miles to the east,
where they had all presumably
originated.
 Go Black/Gold
Discuss with your partners how the birds
ended up on the Galapagos Islands?
 He observed that the
Galpagos species differed
from each other in beak
shape.
He also noted that the beak
varieties were associated
with diets based on different
foods.
 He concluded that when the
original South American
finches reached the islands,
they dispersed to different
environments where they
had to adapt to different
conditions.
 Over many generations, they
changed anatomically in ways
that allowed them to get
enough food and survive to
reproduce.
 Partners
1. Who is the father of Evolution?
2. Where did he choose to study the
finches and why there?
3. What did Darwin propose?
4. Name some examples of evolution in the
world around you.
 Survive or become Extinct
Beak shape allowed each bird to eat from
different food sources.
Lets see how tools or appendages decide
whether we will be able to survive or
perish.
 Adaptations
This lead Darwin to the idea of
adaptations.
Adaptations are changes that make an
individual better able to survive than other
members of the group.
 Cooperative Pairs
Black tell Gold what adaptations did
Darwin observe in the Finches?

Gold tell Black why each adaptation was

made.
 Extra Practice

How would your life change if you did not have

an opposable thumb? (Emphasis: Focus on
environment and how not having a thumb would
affect your interacting with the environment).
Try to write your name on your paper.
Try to pick up your paper.
Could you use a knife to cut your food?
Think about bathroom activities.
 Essential Question

How have the physical characteristics of

organisms changed over time? (Darwins
finches, giraffe neck length, peppered
moths)
 More Examples

Peppered" moths where very

common in English during the
industrial time.
These insects varied in body
coloration from light to dark.
 During the 19th century, smoke from
coal burning furnaces killed the lichen
on the trees and darkened the bark.
Lichen made the trees appear lighter
in color. Let review what a Lichen is.
The moths depended on the tree for
shelter/protection.
When moths landed on these trees,
the dark colored ones were harder to
spot by the birds who ate them.
 The white moth started to be
preyed upon more often. Only
a small amount survived to
reproduce.
Over generations the
environment continued to favor
darker moths.
As a result, they progressively
became more common.
 By 1900, 98% of the moths
in the vicinity of English
cities like Manchester were
mostly black.
However, during the
1950's, air pollution controls
significantly reduced the
amount of pollutants
reaching the trees.
 As a result, lichens have grown back
making trees lighter in color.
Since the trees now appeared lighter
again, darker moths were unable to
blend in.
As a result, darker moths started to
be preyed upon.