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Lesson Plan:

Understanding Darwin's Theory of Evolution



Teacher Candidate: Miriah Mertell Date: 06/10/2014
Grade and Topic: 9th and 10th grade Biology Length of Lesson: 47 minutes
Mentor Teacher: N/A School: Bolton High

UNIT/CHAPTER OBJECTIVE/GENERALIZATION/BIG IDEA:
Understand how biodiversity and change has occurred throughout the history of Earth.

LESSON OBJECTIVE (SWBAT):
Understand Darwin's summaries in his theory for evolution.
Use a word processor to aid in "translating" Darwin's original words into ones that can be readily understood by
people today.

STANDARDS ADDRESSED:
CLE 3210.5.4 Summarize the supporting evidence for the theory of evolution.
ISTE-S Standards 3. Research and information fluency. Apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use
information. b.) Locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information from a variety of
sources and media.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.9-10.2 Determine the central ideas or conclusions of a text; trace the text's explanation
or depiction of a complex process, phenomenon, or concept; provide an accurate summary of the text

MATERIALS:
Connection to the internet to retrieve a copy of Darwin's conclusions on his theory of evolution by
natural selection, found on page 5 of the pdf located at:
http://web.grinnell.edu/courses/BIO/S11/BIO240/Origin%20of%20species%20excerptsAnim%2
0Behav.pdf
A computer, with a word processor loaded and functional (preferably Microsoft Word)
A printer
Potentially a thesaurus, although an online thesaurus like the one at http://thesaurus.com/ would work.

BACKGROUND and RATIONALE:
Ideally, this lesson should be used as an enrichment lesson following an explanation of evolution.
It will help students to further understand Darwin's approach to the theory of evolution, and his idea of
natural selection.
This lesson will aid students ability to comprehend complex scientific terminology, and increase their
vocabulary.

PROCEDURES AND TIMELINE:
Introduction/ Problem Statement: Imagine you are an average person in the year 1859. Darwin has
just published his book, On the Origin of Species, and everyone is talking about it. you've gotten a copy
and tried to read it, but the language is so dry! So, you've decided to "translate" it into your own words,
in order to make it more interesting and easier to understand.

In this lesson, that's exactly what you are going to do, using a word processor (Microsoft Word) and an
online thesaurus to aid you!


Procedures:
Before the computer (5 minutes): The introduction of the problem statement shouldn't
take more than five minutes. Afterwards, I will distribute copies of an excerpt from Darwin's
book (the summary that I want them to re-word). Students will be given a couple minutes to read
it to themselves and then we will read it out loud as a class.
At the computer (40 minutes): Have students open both a MS word document and an
internet browser. Direct students to the website with the pdf of Darwin's excerpts. Students will
then create a table with two columns in MS word I will assist as needed), and then copy and
paste the summary excerpt into one side. Their "translation" will go in the other column. I will
remind them to save work frequently and check for any spelling errors, and ask them to double
space the document, and use either times new roman or Arial font, size 12. Then, I will direct
the student to print a copy.
Closure (2 minutes): The students will hand in their translations, and I will look at them that night, and
then choose some to be read the next class.


DESCRIPTION OF STUDENT PRODUCT
AND ASSESSMENT EVIDENCE:
Product: The students will turn in a printed copy of a MS word document, on which they have created a
table with two columns. The left column will have a heading along the lines of "Original words by
Darwin", and the right column will have a heading along the lines of "My interpretation". Following
that, will be a pasted excerpt from Darwin's summary of natural selection in the left-hand column, and
the student's interpretation of what he meant on the right-hand column.
Assessment: The student's translation will be graded on (a) whether they have followed directions, (b)
whether or not they completed the assignment, and (c) the accuracy of their interpretations. Three levels
of quality will be below proficiency, proficient, and advanced.

MODIFICATIONS:
For any student in which accommodations must be made, I will allow extra time to finish the
assignment. they will be allowed to take their translations home and finish it overnight.

Example of a Student Product for The origin of species translation assignment.
Darwin's Original Words My Translation
It is interesting to contemplate an entangled bank,
clothed with many plants of many kinds, with birds
singing on the bushes, with various insects flitting
about, and with worms crawling through the damp
earth, and to reflect that these elaborately constructed
forms, so different from each other, and dependent on
each other in so complex a manner, have all been
produced by laws acting around us ... Thus, from the
war of nature, from famine and death, the most exalted
object which we are capable of conceiving, namely,
the production of the higher animals, directly follows.
There is grandeur in this view of life, with its several
powers, having been originally breathed into a few
forms or into one; and that, whilst this planet has gone
cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from
so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful
and most wonderful have been, and are being,
evolved.
[145]

It is neat to think about an ensnared bank, covered
with plants of all varieties, with birds calling on the
plants, with assorted insects hovering around, and with
worms wriggling through the wet dirt, and to consider
that these complexly built systems, so distinct from
each other, and reliant on each other in such a
complicated way, have all been made by laws
engaging around us Therefore, from the conflict in
nature, from starvation and demise, the magnificent
thing which we are able to perceive, in other words,
the evolution of more advanced animals, comes
immediately. There is beauty in this perspective of
life, with its many potentials, having been at first
began by just a few organisms or one; and that, while
this Earth has rotated because of the laws of gravity,
from such an easy origination countless organisms that
are gorgeous and amazing have been, and are still,
evolving.

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