Biological Evolution (9-12)

* Species evolve over time.   * The great diversity of organisms is the result of more than 3.5 billion years of evolution that has filled every corner of our planet with life.   * Natural selection provides a scientific explanation for the fossil record of ancient life forms.   * The millions of different species of plants, animals, and microorganisms alive today are related by descent from common ancestors.   * Biological classifications are based on how organisms are related.   (NSES, 1996)

 The name of this incredible learning tool  is Becoming Human. It comes to us from Arizona State University and the Institute of Human Origins. You will need a broadband connection for this site. This particular site is a stunning example of how good web instruction can be. The design and content are exceptional. It has won numerous awards.

This "learning tool" is called Understanding Evolution. It is a wonderful,  one-stop destination for educators of any level, the University of California Museum of Paleontology has compiled an inexhaustible resource for teaching evolution in the classroom.

The name of this learning tool is called Evidence - How We Know What We Know. For most of us, science arrives in our lives packaged neatly as fact. But how did it get that way?  Science is an active process of observation and investigation. In this case study on human origins, we explore how scientific evidence is being used to shape our current understanding of ourselves. The incredible science museum, The Exploratorium , produced this great work!

 See how living things are related by exploring this wonderful interactive from the BBC called The Tree of Life hosted by award winning naturalist David Attenborough. On this site you can explore the interactive and watch a video of the Tree of Life. Find out more about Darwin and evolution and join the discussion on the blog. There are also plenty of resources for teachers, scientists and animators. When you get there click on "Go to the Interactive".

The name of this learning tool is called Natural Selection and comes to us from the incredible web site called PhET from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Here you can explore natural selection by controlling the environment and causing mutations in bunnies. Check out the Teaching Ideas in this simulation.

The Evolution of Flight examines evidence from the fossil record, behavior, biomechanics and cladistic analysis to interpret the sequence of events that led to flight in the dinosaur lineage. Students gather, organize and analyze data and then propose hypotheses about the evolution of flight in birds. This great web site comes to us from the University of California Museum of Paleontology and their Explorations in Time.

This "learning tool" allows your students to see natural selection in action as it describes the Rise of Antibiotic Resistance. Once you get to the page, click the "Click to View Animation" button and then click the "Narrated" button. Sumanas, Inc.  produced this great animation and many other conceptually concise life science related multimedia. They know how to teach well!

The name of this "learning tool" is called Evolution Lab. Students get to see evolution in action and get to really ask some interesting "what if" questions in this clever and conceptually clear simulation. The simulation was developed by Dr. Leif  Saul and can be found as one of the activities in Biology in Motion.

The name of this "learning tool" is called Evolution.  The elegant and conceptually clean animations of John Kyrk will lead your students through the fascinating world of the evolution of  life on the planet Earth. Just click the small green arrow on the left side to advance the animations.

Challenging, elegant, and very special. Ariel Dolan has created eFloys. They are territorial, have an individual personality, and the ability to evolve. This will take your biology students a little time to master, but once they have it, they will learn a life long lesson on behavior, evolution, and natural selection. This one you need to read the instructions! Visit Ariel Dolan's Artificial Life and Other Experiments to see other cool interactives.

A Brief History of Life is a "learning tool" from the Nova show called Origins. Just click on the "Launch Interactive" button when you get to the page.

The name of this "learning tool" is An Origin of Species. Witness for yourself how a new species can evolve as you observe natural selection and adaptive radiation in action. This interactive activity comes from the PBS web site Evolution of the same name. PBS is a leader in science education and this site is a fine example of this work.

The eSkeletons Project is a technical and imaging marvel. It allows students to study human and primate comparative anatomy. It offers a unique set of digitized versions of skeletons in 2-D and 3-D in full color, animations, and much supplemental information. Quicktime plug-in is required.

This learning tool is called The Evolution of Organelles. This is an elegant and well designed tool that  comes to us from a company called Sumanas, Inc. This company has some of the most well designed multimedia presentations we have seen. Flash is required.

The name of this wonderful learning tool is Life Has a History. Level One is designed for K-4, while Level 2 is designed for Grades 5 to 12. This learning tool comes to us from the University of California Museum of Paleontology, and is part of their site called Explorations Through Time. The Explorations Through Time has a number of very good interactive about life changing over time. Great work.

See how environmental changes force species to adapt in Rainfall and Bird Beaks.  This “learning tool” comes to us from one of the most innovative science education companies, Explorelearning.com. They call their simulations Gizmos. They are a subscription site, but they allow you to see this Gizmo for 5 minutes.   Shockwave is required.