1 - 12 of 21 results

How Can We Explain Evolutionary Relationships among Species?

In this inquiry-based activity, students engage in science practices to figure out ways environmental factors drive the natural selection and adaptation of Galápagos finches.

Evolution
Science Practices
Card Activities
High School — General
High School — AP/IB

Mystery of the Missing Tusks

This activity explores images of elephants with and without tusks, which serve as phenomena for learning about selection and human impacts on the frequency of traits within populations.

Evolution
Environmental Science
Phenomenal Images
High School — General
High School — AP/IB

Stalking the Genetic Basis of a Trait

This activity supports the film Popped Secret: The Mysterious Origin of Corn. Students analyze data on the expression of the tb1 gene to explain how variations in this gene played a role in the evolution of corn.

Genetics
Anatomy & Physiology
Evolution
Science Practices
Lessons
High School — AP/IB
College

Selective Breeding in Maize

This activity guides the analysis of a published scientific figure from the world’s longest-running controlled artificial selection study, in which scientists tested whether they could use selective breeding to change the protein concentration of maize (corn).

Anatomy & Physiology
Evolution
Science Practices
Data Points
High School — General
High School — AP/IB
College

Spreadsheet Tutorial 4: t-Test

In this activity, students explore different ways of calculating t-values and performing t-tests using built-in functions in Excel or Google Sheets. Students apply what they learned by plotting beak size measurements of Galapágos finches collected before and after a drought.

Evolution
Science Practices
Lessons
High School — General
High School — AP/IB
College

Spreadsheet Tutorial 5: Histogram

In this activity, students explore different ways of constructing a histogram using Excel or Google Sheets. Students apply what they learned by plotting beak size measurements of Galapágos finches before and after a drought.

Evolution
Science Practices
Lessons
High School — General
High School — AP/IB
College

The Teosinte Hypothesis

In this activity, students further explore the short film Popped Secret: The Mysterious Origin of Corn, by working through the mathematical concepts behind George Beadle’s claim that teosinte is the wild ancestor of maize.

Genetics
Anatomy & Physiology
Evolution
Science Practices
Lessons
High School — General
High School — AP/IB
College

Trends in Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide

This activity analyzes a figure showing the atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration from 1958 to 2023.

Environmental Science
Earth Science
Science Practices
Data Points
High School — General
High School — AP/IB
College

Natural Selection and the Evolution of Darwin’s Finches

In this activity, students develop arguments for the adaptation and natural selection of Darwin’s finches, based on evidence presented in the film The Beak of the Finch.

Evolution
Science Practices
Card Activities
High School — General
High School — AP/IB
College

Activity for Popped Secret: The Mysterious Origin of Corn

This activity explores how scientists determined how and where corn was domesticated, as discussed in the short film Popped Secret: The Mysterious Origin of Corn.

Genetics
Anatomy & Physiology
Evolution
Film Activities
High School — General
High School — AP/IB
College

Spreadsheet Tutorial 2: Autofill Data, Cell References, and Standard Deviation

In this activity, students use the built-in functions in Excel or Google Sheets to explore different ways of filling in cells with a series of numbers, copying and pasting formulae, and referencing individual cells to use in calculations. Students apply what they learned by making different calculations with beak size measurements of Galapágos finches.

Evolution
Science Practices
Lessons
High School — General
High School — AP/IB
College

Spreadsheet Tutorial 3: Column Graphs, Error Bars, and Standard Error of the Mean

In this activity, students explore different ways of creating simple bar graphs and adding error bars from calculated statistical values using built-in functions in Excel or Google Sheets. Students apply what they learned by plotting beak size measurements of Galapágos finches collected before and after a drought.

Evolution
Science Practices
Lessons
High School — General
High School — AP/IB
College