Background Information for Teachers
This variety of resources will enrich your content knowledge in the areas outlined by
the Life Science Content Standard, grades 5-8, of the National Science Education Standards regarding structure and
function in living systems. These areas include the characteristics of living things, levels of organization, diversity, extinction, and evolution.
Familiarity with the tree of life allows for deeper comprehension of the diversity of life and evolutionary theory,
including the concept of “descent with modification.” This resource provides a concise description and representation
of the shared common ancestor of all life on earth and the science of phylogeny using molecules as a basis of the tree’s
organization. The page also contains links to information about protozoa and study guides.
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This page introduces the Exploratorium's Traits of Life collection, a set of biology exhibits and
demonstrations that examines the fundamental elements common to all living things. The collection addresses
questions such as: What are the essential elements of life? How can you distinguish between the living and
nonliving world? After reviewing the site’s contents, you can choose which sections to share with your students.
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The heart of the web site that bills itself as a “one-stop source for information on evolution” is
Evolution 101! This section
can serve as a primer to evolutionary theory or an intensive course in the nitty-gritty details of speciation, micro -
and macroevolution, and ongoing research into how evolution happens. The site is replete with examples of how evolution
impacts our daily lives, including the problem of antibiotic resistance in disease organisms and the
conservation and breeding of endangered species.
Before technology enabled construction of phylogenies based on DNA for example, evidence for evolution relied on comparative anatomy
alone; now comparative anatomy
supplements the growing abundance of evidence. The site also gives lesson plans and activities, as well as strategies for
teaching and responding to misconceptions and overcoming roadblocks.
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In this interview, entomologist and conservation advocate Edward O. Wilson answers questions about
what species are, how new species arise, and why humans should be concerned about the loss of biodiversity.
ESA (energy, stability, and area) is his shorthand for the factors that support a large number of species
per unit area. Wilson discusses sympatric and allopatric speciation and how species can evolve relatively
rapidly on islands. He recommends that work to ward off species extinctions be focused on areas called hot
spots of biodiversity. He also cites evidence that the protection of natural systems does not undermine economic
expansion. Links to further information, opportunities for involvement, and biodiversity lesson plans
(including one involving this article) are provided. MSP full record
Skulls have been designed for both form and function.
Through the use of text and labeled photographs, this web site explains how specific skull adaptations meet the needs
of organisms. For instance, visitors will discover that macaws’ beaks are attached to their skull through ligaments to
limit the amount of force put on the skull when the birds crack open nuts. The site also presents a series of skull facts,
questions, and answers provided by scientists. A unique feature allows visitors to rotate the images of skulls so they can
view the different adaptations in form from all angles. While this site is appropriate for high school students, many middle
school students would have difficulty abstracting the images into coherent alignment with concepts of evolution and adaptation. MSP full record
As a living organism part of a bigger ecosystem, humans play host to innumerable other living things.
This site lists several related web sites on the topic. We recommend the
second, Human Body Lice Reveal the Birthdate of Fashion,
and the third one, Humans Less Hairy Thanks to Parasites and Sex,
illustrative of how evolutionary theory relates structure and function to animal behavior.
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Maintaining balance between a living system’s internal conditions and fluctuating environmental (external) conditions
is called homeostasis. This site illustrates and describes feedback loops and contains links to Balance in
Natural Communities, Balancing the Planet: Gaia Theory, and teacher resources.
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According to environmentalist Dave Foreman, life today faces the sixth great extinction event in earth’s history.
He says the cause is eating, manufacturing, traveling, warring, consuming, and breeding by six billion human beings.
For the first time in the history of life on earth, one species, Homo sapiens, is waging a war against nature.
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Copyright
August 2007 — The Ohio State University. This material is based upon work
supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0424671. Any
opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this
material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of
the National Science Foundation.
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This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons License.
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