Syllabus

 

Biological evolution accounts for the diversity of species developed through gradual processes over many generations. 
Evidence from rocks allows us to understand the evolution of life on Earth.
Investigation
Human Body
Light & Living Things
Cell Biology
Genetics
Evolution & History
Site Map
 
 
 
Evolution

Charles Darwin

  • Both genetic variation and environmental factors are causes of evolution and diversity of organisms.
  • Charles Darwin used reasoning in reaching his conclusion that natural selection is the mechanism of evolution.
  • Independent lines of evidence from geology, fossils, and comparative anatomy provide the bases for the theory of evolution.
  • A simple branching diagram can be used to classify living groups of organisms by shared derived characteristics and can be expanded to include fossil organisms.
  • Extinction of a species occurs when the environment changes and the adaptive characteristics of a species are insufficient for its survival.
  Systematics   PPT   PDF LIFE: A Journey Through Time Nature, wildlife, landscape, and stock photographs by National Geographic photographer Frans Lanting.
  Evolution   PPT   PDF Life Science: Evolution 20 min video QuickTime movie from Discovery Channel on Darwin and natural selection
  Evidence for Evolution   PPT   PDF The Greatest Discoveries with Bill Nye: The Origin and Evolution of Life 45 min QuickTime video from United Streaming on the time before humans
  How Evolution Works   PPT   PDF T. Rex - PBS 8 min clip on how T. rex grew to be so large
  Natural Selection   PPT   PDF Little People of Flores PBS - 11 min segment explaining how some scientists think Homo floresiensis may be a new human species that measured three feet tall, had a brain one-third the size of modern human's, and lived as recently as 18,000 years ago
     

   
Earth & Life History

 

  • Earth processes today are similar to those that occurred in the past and slow geologic processes have large cumulative effects over long periods of time.
  • The history of life on Earth has been disrupted by major catastrophic events, such as major volcanic eruptions or the impacts of asteroids.
  • The rock cycle includes the formation of new sediment and rocks and that rocks are often found in layers, with the oldest generally on the bottom.
  • Evidence from geologic layers and radioactive dating indicates Earth is approximately 4.6 billion years old and that life on this planet has existed for more than 3 billion years.
  • Fossils provide evidence of how life and environmental conditions have changed.
  • Movements of Earth's continental and oceanic plates through time, with associated changes in climate and geographic connections, have affected the past and present distribution of organisms.
  • Significant developments and extinctions of plant and animal life can be explained on the geologic time scale.
  Evidence from Rocks   PPT   PDF Understanding Geological Time - UCMP Berkeley  - a tour of geologic time
  Relative Dating    PPT   PDF Evolutionary Timeline - BBC Schools - a timeline showing key events in the evolution of life forms from the first bacteria to first humans
  Absolute Dating   PPT   PDF Stories  from the Fossil Record - UC Berkeley Museum of Paleontology
  How Earth Changes   PPT   PDF Earth's Catastrophic Past 50 min QuickTime video from United Streaming depicting the first life forms and the formation of Earth's geological features
  Bathymetric Maps & Plate Tectonics   PPT   PDF Fossils United Streaming - 20 min video explaining how fossils are found and studied
  Life History   PPT   PDF  
  Mass Extinctions   PPT   PDF  
     
     
     
 

Patricia Ware

Manhattan Beach Middle School

1501 Redondo Beach Avenue

Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

310.318.7345 ext. 3105