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Introduction to Speciation and Evolution

Mr. Anthony C. Mella

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Objectives

Students will be able to:

  1. Define what a species is
  2. Learn to organize and classify different species
  3. Create an evolutionary tree based on the given characteristics of different species.

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Pre-Assessment Question

Directions: Select all of the following images that are the same species.

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

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Pre-Assessment Question

Directions: Select all of the following images that are the same species.

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

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Introduction

What is a species?

A species is a classification assigned to a group of organisms possessing very similar traits and features that are also capable of interbreeding.

In the case of our example, the recurring species was the Emperor Penguin.

The other examples included a Gentoo Penguin (C), a Cardinal (B), a Blue Jay (H), and a Saltwater Crocodile (F).

Despite not all being the same, we can organize these animals.

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Practice

Directions: List some features of these animals. Are there any shared or similar features?

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Practice Question

*This would then be a time to interact with the students and write down certain features that they list off. I could then go about writing them on the board or typing them in so that any absent students can be sent the final and modified version as if they were in class*

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Post-Assessment

Directions: Place the organisms in the tree where you think they belong.

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Post-Assessment

Directions: Place the organisms in the tree where you think they belong.