Evidence for Evolution
Module 08 — Secrets in the Rocks
Target Phenomenon
Crime scene forensics meets paleontology. How do we know what lived 300 million years ago?
NGSS Standards
- HS-LS4-1 — Communicate scientific information that common ancestry and biological evolution are supported by multiple lines of empirical evidence. (Fossil record)
- HS-LS4-3 — Apply concepts of statistics and probability to support explanations that organisms with an advantageous heritable trait tend to increase in proportion to organisms lacking this trait. (Comparative anatomy/DNA)
- HS-LS4-6 — Create or revise a simulation to test a solution to mitigate adverse impacts of human activity on biodiversity. (Biodiversity)
Lesson Breakdown
| Lesson | Title | Focus | NGSS Practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| L01 | The Bone Detectives | Fossil record as evidence for evolution | Constructing Explanations |
| L02 | The Body’s Memory | Comparative anatomy (homologous, analogous, vestigial structures) | Analyzing & Interpreting Data |
| L03 | The Code Breakers | Molecular evidence (DNA, proteins, molecular clocks) | Using Models & Computational Thinking |
| L04 | The Time Capsule | Embryology and developmental evidence | Analyzing & Interpreting Data |
| L05 | The Case Closed | Evaluating and synthesizing all evidence | Engaging in Argument from Evidence |
Total: 5 lessons
Recommended Prior Module
M07 — The Arms Race (Natural Selection)
Notes
Forensic-style framing. Students compare molecular data, embryology, and fossil evidence. High-engagement detective aesthetic.