Becoming Whales

Students will experience the historical discovery of fossils that increasingly link whales to earlier land-dwelling mammals. This experience reveals how scientists can make predictions about past events, based on the theory and evidence that whales evolved. This lesson also provides confirmation, with multiple independent lines of evidence, that there is a series of intermediate forms, showing gradual accumulation of changes, linking certain terrestrial mammal groups with modern whales.
Resource ID#: 371 Type: Lesson Plan
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Direct Link: https://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=79890

General Information

Subject(s): Science
Grade Level(s): 9, 10, 11, 12
Intended Audience: Educators educators
Instructional Time: 1 Hour(s) 30 Minute(s)
Keywords: whales, evolution, evidence, timeline, eocene, transitional, intermediate, fossils, phylogenetic tree, marine mammal, ambulocetus, pakicetus, archaeocetus, mesonychids, basilosaurus, rodhocetus, optional computer use
Instructional Component Type(s): Lesson Plan,  Problem-Solving Task,  Presentation/Slideshow,  Teaching Idea
Instructional Design Framework(s): Direct Instruction, Predict-Explain-Observe-Explain, Structured Inquiry (Level 2), Learning Cycle (e.g., 5E), Writing to Learn, Cooperative Learning
Resource Collection: General Collection

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