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 fnch 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 fnches.

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 specifc 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.