Finches Lesson Plans - LessonCorner

1. Adaptive Radiation: Darwin's Finches
mtcorps Adaptive Radiation: Darwin's Finches Search wiki: Home Edit page Log inAdd featuresHelp QuickStart Recent Activity SideBar Create a new page Create a classroom Create a syllabus Create a group project Use another template Share this It's easy - just select the desired access level, copy this link and send it via email, instant message,...

2. The Beaks of the Finches
Quantcast -Advertisement- _ _ _ -Advertisement- The Beaks of the Finches Cherry Sprague Type of entry: class activity Type of activity: hands-on activity simulation inquiry lab Target audience: AP Biology Background Information Shortly after Peter Grant published Natural Selection and Darwin's Finches, (Scientific American, Oct. 1991) he accepted an invitation to speak t...

3. Lesson: evolution mini-lesson: Video: "What Darwin Never Saw"
...or comments to initiate discussion. A key to the "Video Notes" follows the worksheet below. I highly recommend that you read the popular book which covers this study: The Beak of the Finch by Jonathan Weiner (Knopf, 1994, $25), a Pulitzer Prize winning book about the Grants and their work with the finches, as featured in the video. This should be in your school library, as well. For any students wanting more of the "meat" of the study, encourage them to read it, too. EXTENSIONS AND VARIATIONS: An excellent alternative lesson, built around the Grants' finch sudy, with data,, a lesson, and a key, can b...

4. Note to the Teacher: This versatile lesson plan unit, which co
...rck A "Bird-Rabbit" Controversy OBJECTIVES: The students will: 1) debate the theories of Darwin and Lamarck 2) construct an extinct "critter," or one on the endangered species list 3) use an imaginary organism to simulate the concept of predator vs. prey 4) determine the diet and colors of Darwin's Finches 5) design own species of organism Background Information After years of studying a variety of organisms, Charles Darwin, in 1859, wrote The Origin of Species, which was a popular success. The initial printing sold out on the first day of publication, but Darwin's theory eventually lost some of its o...

5. Birds of a Feather Flock to the Web
...y Connections Word of the Day Test Prep Overview of Lesson Plan: This lesson plan teaches students how to Question of the cite Web sites in correct MLA bibliographical format. Students Day will first discuss an article regarding the theory of adaptive Web Explorer radiation of species proven in the finches of the Galapagos Science Q & A Islands. Students will then go on a Web 'scavenger hunt' to find Letters to the related Web sites, and correctly cite these Web sites using the Editor MLA format taught in class. Ask a Reporter Review the Academic Content Standards related to this lesson. Web Navigator...

6. Raising an Animal
...cages, tanks, water bottles, various foods, resource books on various animals (from a pet shop), etc. Procedure for students: Basically...raise a male and female pair of animals for about eight weeks. 1. As a group, choose the species of animal you want to raise. Some suggestions: mice, guinea pig, finches, fruit flies, fighting fish, guppies, other aquarium fish that will breed, butterfly/moth caterpillars, mealworms, grasshoppers, crickets, snails, slugs, crayfish, lizards, cockroaches, frog/ toad tadpoles. You have to investigate what is available in your area. The students need to understand that...

7. Note to the Teacher: This versatile unit can be used with MIDDLE
...win Today: Distance and Density is Relative! 1-2 Periods Additional background information for activity It took Darwin a little over three years to reach the Galapagos Islands a place where a variety of living organisms where observed. Darwin made many references to variations in the appearances of finches on this island, and he is famous for the theory derived from this study. Now, a century after Darwin's death, we must begin to manage another Galapagos species humans. MATERIALS: Attachments C and D PROCEDURE: 1) Using the mapping exercise as a reference the student can calculate the time it took Da...

8. Verterbrate Classification Lesson Plan
...and show different preferences, there are: Water Birds, e.g., ducks, swan, heron, ibis Video of Swan Video of mother duck with ducklings Video of Egret. Notice the long beaks of some water birds like egrets and ibises ? they it make it easy for getting food in water Perching Birds, e.g., parakeet, finches, sparrows Watch this intelligent parakeet Tree Birds, e.g., woodpecker, creepers, etc. Woodpecker Video. Grounds birds, e.g., ostrich, emu, pheasant, etc. Ostrich Close-up Video. Night Birds, e.g., owl, nightjar, etc. Video of Owl Hooting. View Slide Show Mammals The common features of Mammals: give...

9. Elements of Biology: Matter and Energy
...k argument about which theory or theories should be taught in science class. Back to Top Vocabulary adaptation Definition: A body structure or behavior that gives an organism a better chance of surviving and reproducing in its environment Context: Charles Darwin observed different kinds of beaks on finches, which was an adaptation that enabled finches to survive in their environments with minimal competition for food. Charles Darwin Definition: A British scientist who developed the theory of evolution in the 19^th century Context: After observing the tremendous variety of life forms on the Galápagos I...

10. Evolutionary Exchange
...olution compared with that of intelligent design scientists? -Suggested Web resource: PBS.org (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/ evolution/educators/course/session3/engage_a.html), which provides background information about the evolution of whales to use in your arguments in the dialogue. GROUP B: Darwin's Finches -Intelligent design proponent: What are some concerns with the fossil record? What gaps exist in the evidence? -Suggested Web resource: The Web site of the American Institute of Biological Science (http://www.actionbioscience.org/evolution/ nhmag.html) includes an essay entitled Elusive Icons of Evo...