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Great Transitions: The Origin of Humans

Topic

  • Anatomy & Physiology
  • Skin & Musculoskeletal System
  • Evolution
  • Paleobiology
  • Human Evolution

Resource Type

  • Videos
  • Short Films

Level

High School — GeneralHigh School — AP/IBCollege

Duration

00:19:44
Saved By
36 Users
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View in Spanish

Description

This film explores the major fossil finds from Africa that provide insights about the evolution of humans from other primates.

Like any species, humans have an evolutionary history involving divergence from other animal groups. Paleontologists try to reconstruct this evolutionary history using the fossil record. This film discusses some of the most important hominid fossils and how they illuminate key phases of human evolution, focusing on three traits: larger brains, use of tools, and bipedality.

The “Abbreviated Film Guide” provides a short summary of the film, along with key concepts and connections to curriculum standards.

An audio descriptive version of the film is available via our media player.

Key Terms

Ardipithecus, Australopithecus, bipedal, fossil, hominin, Laetoli, primate, Zinjanthropus

Primary Literature

White, Tim D., Berhane Asfaw, Yonas Beyene, Yohannes Haile-Selassie, C. Owen Lovejoy, Gen Suwa, Giday WoldeGabriel. “Ardipithecus ramidus and the paleobiology of early hominids.” Science, 326, 5949 (2009): 75–86.

Terms of Use

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

Accessibility Level (WCAG compliance)

PDF files partially meet criteria. Video files meet criteria. Spanish files meet criteria.

Version History

Date Published 12.08.14
Date Updated 05.14.20

NGSS (2013)

HS-LS4.A

AP Biology (2019)

EVO-1, EVO-3

IB Biology (2016)

5.1, 5.4, 10.3

AP Environmental Science (2020)

Topic(s): 2.6, 2.7

IB Environmental Systems and Societies (2017)

8.1

Vision and Change (2009)

CC1, CC2

Materials

HD (M4V) 740 MB
HD (WMV) 611 MB
SD (M4V) 166 MB
SD (WMV) 156 MB
Transcript (PDF) 325 KB
Spanish Dub (Español) (MP4) 344 MB
Transcript - Español (PDF) 256 KB
Abbreviated Film Guide (PDF) 285 KB

Use This Resource With

Activity Resource
Activity for The Origin of Humans
Activity Resource
Human Feet Are Strange

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