7th Grade Science Guide

7.5: Changes in Species 3 Dimensions & Progressions

Unit 6

Activity: Gizmo - Rainfall & Bird beaks

Objective

Overview

Materials

●​ The Rainfall and Bird Beaks Gizmo™ allows students to explore how climate affects population size and the distribution of beak shapes

●​ Gizmo Simulation

●​ I can observe finch populations and beak shapes during normal years and understand how annual rainfall affects the amount and

types of available seeds. ●​ I can explain how lack of available seeds leads to different bird beaks.

within a population of seed-eating finches.

Activity: Natural Selection Informational Texts

Objective

Overview

Materials

●​ Student read informational texts about natural selection and write about examples of natural selection.

●​ Natural Selection Text Set ●​ Evolution by Natural Selection Text set

●​ I can read informational text about natural selection, and write about an example of natural selection.

Formative Assessment: SEEd 7.5.1 Formative Assessment

PHenomena Assessment: Do you See What I See?

Objective

Overview

Materials

●​ I can explain how some traits can increase or decrease an organism’s chance of survival in a specific environment.

●​ Have students review the slide presentation Do You See What I See, and then write a CER about how one of the organisms might have developed in such a way to blend so perfectly to their environment.

●​ Lesson Plan

Phenomena Intro: Mountain Top Fossil

Objective

Overview

Materials

●​ Students read about a fossil that was found at the top of a mountain, and make an

●​ Lesson Plan

●​ I can make inferences.