This Introduction to Evolution and Natural Selection is made for a Middle School Life Science classroom and includes all the resources you need to teach Evolution and Natural Selection according to the NGSS - LS1-5, LS4

Your Unit Will Teach Your Students About

• What is Evolution?
• Example of Evolution
• Evidence for Evolution
• Natural Selection
• Biodiversity
• Adaptation – Physical and Behavioral
• Human Influence
• What is a Fossil?
• How Does Fossilization Occur?
• Rock Strata
• The Fossil Record
• The Geologic Time Scale

Your Bundle Includes

• 5 Lessons are included
• 1 Digital Scavenger Hunt Activity
• 1 Lab Station Activity
• 3 Science Comprehension Readings

Your purchase also includes a breakdown of the individual standards including what resources should be used to cover each one individually.

Each lesson includes the lesson (student and teacher versions of the presentation), and a student lesson handout as a document while many also include an auto-graded Exit Ticket so you can check for student understanding.

There are also many lab station activities, digital scavenger hunts, interactive notebooks, and science comprehension readings that can be used to complement the lessons.

Google and Distance Learning Ready

• Most lessons include both Office and Google formats for ALL resources. The presentations are in PowerPoint and Google Slides while all documents contain Word and Google Doc versions.
• Your resources are perfect for in-person and distance learning and integrates seamlessly with Google Classroom as I've included a link that will automatically create a copy of the resources and put them directly into your Google Drive with one click.
• Purchase --> Open --> Click --> Assign to your students

Your bundle includes lessons and activities for the following NGSS:

NGSS MS Evolution and Natural Selection

MS – LS1:

MS-LS1-5. Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for how environmental and genetic factors influence the growth of organisms. [Clarification Statement: Examples of local environmental conditions could include availability of food, light, space, and water. Examples of genetic factors could include large breed cattle and species of grass affecting growth of organisms. Examples of evidence could include drought decreasing plant growth, fertilizer increasing plant growth, different varieties of plant seeds growing at different rates in different conditions, and fish growing larger in large ponds than they do in small ponds.] [Assessment Boundary: Assessment does not include genetic mechanisms, gene regulation, or biochemical processes.]

· Genetically Modified Organisms - Science Reading Article - https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Genetically-Modified-Organisms-Digital-Science-Reading-Article-Grades-5-7-3334263

MS - LS4:

MS-LS4-1. Analyze and interpret data for patterns in the fossil record that document the existence, diversity, extinction, and change of life forms throughout the history of life on Earth under the assumption that natural laws operate today as in the past. [Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on finding patterns of changes in the level of complexity of anatomical structures in organisms and the chronological order of fossil appearance in the rock layers.] [Assessment Boundary: Assessment does not include the names of individual species or geological eras in the fossil record.]

· Fossils and Geologic Time Lesson - https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Fossils-and-Geologic-Time-MS-Earth-Science-Google-Slides-and-PowerPoint-Lesson-3885428

· Fossils and Geologic Time - Lab Station Activity - https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Fossils-and-Geologic-Time-Lab-Station-Activity-3894665

· Fossils - Scientific Reading Comprehension Article – https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Fossils-Scientific-Reading-Comprehension-Article-Grades-5-7-4531911

MS-LS4-2. Apply scientific ideas to construct an explanation for the anatomical similarities and differences among modern organisms and between modern and fossil organisms to infer evolutionary relationships. [Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on explanations of the evolutionary relationships among organisms in terms of similarity or differences of the gross appearance of anatomical structures.]

· Evolution - Middle School Lesson - https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Evolution-Google-Slides-Office-Middle-School-Lesson-Notes-8703777

· Introduction to Evolution – Digital Scavenger Hunt Activity - https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Introduction-to-Evolution-A-Digital-Scavenger-Hunt-Activity-3801784

MS-LS4-3. Analyze displays of pictorial data to compare patterns of similarities in the embryological development across multiple species to identify relationships not evident in the fully formed anatomy. [Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on inferring general patterns of relatedness among embryos of different organisms by comparing the macroscopic appearance of diagrams or pictures.] [Assessment Boundary: Assessment of comparisons is limited to gross appearance of anatomical structures in embryological development.]

· Evolution - Middle School Lesson - https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Evolution-Google-Slides-Office-Middle-School-Lesson-Notes-8703777

· Introduction to Evolution – Digital Scavenger Hunt Activity - https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Introduction-to-Evolution-A-Digital-Scavenger-Hunt-Activity-3801784

MS-LS4-4. Construct an explanation based on evidence that describes how genetic variations of traits in a population increase some individuals’ probability of surviving and reproducing in a specific environment. [Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on using simple probability statements and proportional reasoning to construct explanations.]

· Natural Selection - Middle School Lesson - https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Natural-Selection-Google-Slides-Office-Middle-School-Lesson-Notes-8703725

· Physical & Behavioral Adaptations Lesson - https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Physical-Behavioral-Adaptations-Increasing-an-organisms-chances-of-survival-1868456

· Animal Adaptations - Science Reading Article – https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Animal-Adaptations-Science-Reading-Article-Grades-5-7-2441254

MS-LS4-5. Gather and synthesize information about the technologies that have changed the way humans influence the inheritance of desired traits in organisms. [Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on synthesizing information from reliable sources about the influence of humans on genetic outcomes in artificial selection (such as genetic modification, animal husbandry, gene therapy); and, on the impacts these technologies have on society as well as the technologies leading to these scientific discoveries.]

· Genetic Technologies and Gene Therapy Introduction Lesson - https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Genetic-Technologies-and-Gene-Therapy-Introduction-Middle-School-Lesson-Notes-8686551

MS-LS4-6. Use mathematical representations to support explanations of how natural selection may lead to increases and decreases of specific traits in populations over time. [Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on using mathematical models, probability statements, and proportional reasoning to support explanation

· Natural Selection - Middle School Lesson - https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Natural-Selection-Google-Slides-Office-Middle-School-Lesson-Notes-8703725

· Physical Adaptations - Science Reading Article - https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Physical-Adaptations-Science-Reading-Article-Grades-5-7-3920249

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The student version of the presentations contains multiple blanks that need to be filled in throughout the lesson. These blanks are conveniently underlined and bolded on the teacher copy. I have found this to be the most effective means of keeping my students engaged and active without having them write everything out. This also leaves more time for discussion and activities.

I also have a range of assignments and lessons/units from other grade levels at my store. Please CLICK HERE to have a look around and don’t forget to follow if you like what you see.

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