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Activity for The Beak of the Finch

Image of a beak of a finch

Topic

  • Anatomy & Physiology
  • Animal Behavior
  • Evolution
  • Natural Selection
  • Speciation

Resource Type

  • Activities
  • Film Activities

Level

High School — GeneralHigh School — AP/IBCollege
Saved By
33 Users
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View in Spanish

Description

This activity explores the concepts and research presented in the short film The Origin of Species: The Beak of the Finch, which documents the main findings from four decades of investigations on the evolution of the Galápagos finches.

Evolutionary biologists Rosemary and Peter Grant spent four decades tracking changes in body traits directly tied to survival in the famous Galápagos finches. They also identified behavioral characteristics that prevent different species from breeding with one another. Their pioneering studies documented natural selection in real time and revealed clues about how 13 distinct finch species arose from a single ancestral population that migrated from the mainland 2 million to 3 million years ago. The “Student Handout” probes students’ understanding of the key concepts addressed in the film. The “Educator Materials” document provides suggested pause points in the film with questions for students, background information, and detailed discussion points; a list of related resources and references; and an answer key for the “Student Handout.”

Student Learning Targets

  • Use data to explain some of the key research findings of Peter and Rosemary Grant about the evolution of the Galápagos finches.

Estimated Time

Two 50-minute class periods.

Key Terms

adaptation, ecological niche, speciation, trait

Primary Literature

Grant, Peter R., and B. Rosemary Grant. How and Why Species Multiply. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 2008.

Weiner, Jonathan. The Beak of the Finch: A Story of Evolution in Our Time. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., 1994.

Terms of Use

Please see the Terms of Use for information on how this resource can be used.

Accessibility Level (WCAG compliance)

PDF files meet criteria. Spanish files meet criteria.

Version History

Date Published 01.14.14
Date Updated 10.28.19

NGSS (2013)

HS-LS2-1, HS-LS3-3, HS-LS4-3, HS-LS4-5; SEP6

AP Biology (2019)

EVO-1.D, EVO-1.K, EVO-1.N, EVO-1.O, EVO-3.D, EVO-3.E, EVO-3.F; SP1, SP4

IB Biology (2016)

5.1, 5.4, C.1

AP Environmental Science (2020)

Topic(s): 2.6, 2.7
Learning Objectives & Practices: ERT-2.H, SP2, SP4, SP5

IB Environmental Systems and Societies (2017)

3.2

Common Core (2010)

ELA.RST.9-12.4, ELA.WHST.9-12.9

Vision and Change (2009)

CC1, CC5; DP1

Materials

Educator Materials (PDF) 500 KB
Student Handout (PDF) 586 KB
Educator Materials - Español (PDF) 2 MB
Student Handout - Español (PDF) 1 MB

Use This Resource With

Video Resource
The Origin of Species: The Beak of the Finch

Educator Tips

Hear how educators are using BioInteractive content in their teaching.
Educator standing in front of a photograph of a bird. Play Video Previous Slide Next Slide
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1-Minute Tips

The Beak of the Finch

Samantha Johnson describes how she uses the short film "The Origin of Species: The Beak of the Finch" to demonstrate to her students how quickly selective pressure can affect a population, as well as to show that not all science is done indoors.
Previous Slide Next Slide
Educator in front of an image of a bird Play Video Previous Slide Next Slide
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1-Minute Tips

Sorting Finch Species

Cindy Gay describes using two BioInteractive resources to teach her students about evolution. She first shows them the short film "The Beak of the Finch," which describes research by biologists Peter and Rosemary Grant on the Galápagos finches.
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