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Analyzing Data on Tuskless Elephants

Topic
  • Evolution
  • Natural Selection
  • Population Genetics
  • Science Practices
  • Data Analysis
Resource Type
  • Activities
  • Lessons
Level
High School — GeneralHigh School — AP/IBCollege
Used In
1 BioInteractive Playlists
Favorited By
28 Users
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Description

This data-driven activity accompanies the video Selection for Tuskless Elephants. It engages students in analyzing data to make evidence-based claims about the occurrence of tusklessness in elephant populations.

By watching segments of this video, students will follow the analyses and discoveries of Joyce Poole, a scientist who has studied elephants for many years. Students will then analyze data to investigate the impact of human activity, namely poaching, on elephant populations.

Student Learning Targets
  • Analyze quantitative data in order to make predictions based on evidence.

  • Use evidence-based predictions to explain how a population changes over time due to human impacts.

  • Explain how the selective pressures on a population may impact the frequencies of phenotypes.

  • Propose a claim supported by scientific evidence to answer a research question.

  • Determine whether scientific results confirm or contradict a hypothesis.

  • Provide evidence-based reasoning that uses available data to support a scientific claim.

Details
Estimated Time
One to two 50-minute class periods.
Key Terms

adaptation, claim, evidence, frequency, phenotype, poaching, population, reasoning, selection, selective pressure, variation

Terms of Use

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

Version History
Date Published 10.05.18
Date Updated 10.05.18
Curriculum Connections
NGSS (2013)

HS-LS4-2, HS-LS4-3, HS-LS4-4, HS-LS4-5; SEP1, SEP5, SEP6

AP Biology (2019)

EVO-1.E, EVO-1.G, SYI-2.B, SYI-3.D; SP3, SP4, SP5, SP6

IB Biology (2016)

4.1, C.3

AP Environmental Science (2013)

II.A, II.C, VII.C

IB Environmental Systems and Societies (2017)

2.1, 2.2, 3.2, 3.4

Common Core (2010)

ELA.RST.9-12.7, ELA.WHST.9-12.1
Math.N-Q.A.1, Math.N-Q.A.3, Math.S-IC.3; MP2, MP3

Vision and Change (2009)

CC1, CC5; DP1, DP2

Materials
Educator Materials (PDF) 361 KB
Student Handout (PDF) 420 KB
Additional Materials

calculator (optional)

Use This Resource With
Video Resource
Selection for Tuskless Elephants

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