3-LS4-2

SCUSD NGSS Curriculum Guide ====**3-LS4-2: Use evidence to construct an explanation for how the variations in characteristics among individuals of the same species may provide advantages in surviving, finding mates, and reproducing. ** [Clarification Statement: Examples of cause and effect relationships could be plants that have larger thorns than other plants may be less likely to be eaten by predators; and, animals that have better camouflage coloration than other animals may be more likely to survive and therefore more likely to leave offspring.] ====

Science Background for the Teacher:
[overview of relevant science background for teacher]


 * Natural Selection:** Sometimes the differences in characteristics between individuals of the same species provide advantages in surviving, finding mates, and **reproducing**.


 * Adaptation:** A trait that allows the individual to survive in the environment long enough to reproduce, making this adaptation more likely to be passed on to future generations


 * Trait**: A characteristic (behavioral or physical - for example, colored feathers, spots, mating rituals, etc)


 * Evolution**: Organisms changing over time.

Key Vocabulary:

 * ==== Survival ==== || ==== Trait ==== || ==== Adaptation ==== || ==== Characteristic ==== ||
 * ====Species==== || ====Reproduction==== || ====Variation==== || ====Population==== ||
 * ====Advantages==== || ====Natural Selection==== || ====Predator==== || ====Camouflage==== ||
 * Evolution || Offspring ||  ||   ||

Possible Assessments (formative and/or summative):
[Description of assessment task]

-Have pictures of different environments and animals. Students should pair the animal with an environment. After they have paired all of them, pick ONE animal and explain in detail why it is better suited for that environment. in a complete answer, students should include that animals that survive will reproduce.
 * Can be used as a preassement then a post assessment:**

As a preassesment, have students pair them up and explain why. As a post assessment, students should be including vocabulary learned and topics covered.

Key Student Activities:
[Description of student activity. Include necessary materials, if known.] -Have pictures of different environments and animals. Students should pair the animal with an environment and explain why each animal is better suited for that specific environment.

-Give examples of pollinators and flowers that they pollinate and explain why each pollinator would choose a specific flower.

Key Teacher Demos/Activities:
[Description of teacher demo or activity. Include necessary materials, if known.]

-Bring in examples of plants with adaptations, like cacti versus a regular house plant.

-Show why camouflage is important in the animal kingdom

Common Student Misconceptions:
[Descriptions of common student mistakes or misconceptions related to this topic.]

-All species begin at the same time and still exist today. -Environmental changes have stayed the same throughout the history of the Earth -Individual organisms can deliberately develop new heritable traits because they need them for survival (for example, a giraffe stretching it's neck because it needs to reach taller leaves) -Changes in a population occur in ALL members of a population, not through a few members who survive and reproduce -Evolution happens when individual organisms "get used" to their environment. -Changes occur in traits because of the use or disuse of a particular characteristic -Natural Selection is "random"

Things to Avoid/Correct:
[Descriptions of imprecise language or other mistakes related to this topic that might have to be corrected at a higher grade band.]

====Other Resources (text, video, simulations, activities, models, etc..): ==== [Descriptions or links to other resources that would support student understanding of this topic or mastery of these performance expectations.]

-PBS Learning: Animal Mouths

http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/tdc02.sci.life.colt.mouths/animal-mouths/

-Masters of Disguise Video - PBS Learning http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/tdc02.sci.life.colt.disguise/masters-of-disguise/

-Teacher Resource: evolution.berkeley.edu

-Teacher Resources: https://sallyridescience.com/stem-central/home

-Courtship Rituals like the blue footed booby (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NAKg46s1DA)

-PBS learning Birds of a Feather video on courtship rituals

Books:

-Max Axiom Graphic novels - A journey into adaptation

-Uncovering Student Ideas in Science - Page Keeley