Content Standard: D. Continuity and Change
Students will understand the basis for all life and that all living things change over time.
Common Assessment(s): MAP Task: Revealing fossil Secrets

Performance Indicators Students will be able to:	Essential Elements (Specific grade level learning objectives)			Suggested Performance Activities	Suggested Classroom Assessments	Vocabulary
1. Describe how fossils can be used by scientists to trace the history of a species.	Students understand superposition and sedimentary rock formations.			Students simulate a fossil dig using fantastic fossil finds	Students simulate a scientists journal explaining their discoveries	Fossil succession relative dating Geological Time Scale
2. Explain how scientists use fossils to prove that life forms, climate, environment, and geological features in a certain location are not the same now as they were in the past.	Students understand the main features of the physical and biological factors that shape the earth. Students have a basic understanding of how the earth changes over time.			Students investigate stories and discoveries of the Ice Age to understand how animal and plant fossils and ice cores record the earths past.	Students role-play an interview where an Ice Age Expert is questioned as to how he/she can prove that an ice age really did exist. Students are required to submit script to teacher before role-play takes place.	Continental Drift Theory Gondwanaland Pangea law of superposition
3. Provide examples of the concept of natural and artificial selection and its role in species change over time.	Students understand using basic ecological concepts that species must adapt to survive in their changing environment.			Gypsy Moth adaptations in N.Y. Darwinism "Origin of the Species" Island Studies (Hawaii, Galapagos)	Video: Walking with Dinosaurs	adaption adaptation survival competition limiting factor global climate change succession keystone species
4. Compare how sexually and asexually reproducing species transfer genetic information to offspring	Understanding sexual reproduction involves sharing and mixing of genetic information and asexual organisms pass on an exact copy of their DNA.			Mitosis/Meiosis Flip book Students will be able to describe the DNA and RNA molecule. Students will view the video "The Intricate Cell."	Students will be presented with various pictures of organisms in which they will describe how the organism reproduces	Meiosis, mitosis, budding gemmules fragmentations regeneration gamete zygote spermatozoon ovum fertilization, patterns & cycles deoxyribonucleic acid DNA gene chromosome replicate