Early Human Origin and Migration
Grade Level: 9-12
Subject: Earth and Space Science
Summary of Lesson: Students will read current theories of human origin and migration.
Students will map these theories to demonstrate understanding.
Focus Question: What evidence do scientists use to theorize about the origin and
migration of early humans?
Resource: Science in Context
Procedures
Steps/Activities by Teacher
1. Ensure that students have working knowledge of DNA and/or genetic inheritance
prior to this lesson.
2. Divide students into small groups of 4. Provide each group with two photocopies of a
world map.
3. Direct students to brainstorm ideas on the origin of humans. Someone in the group
should act as a recorder to capture and summarize their ideas. At the end of the
brainstorming session, the group should mark an “X” on the map to indicate the
location where they believe humans originated. They should draw arrows showing
the movement of humans over time, in whatever directions they believe humans
settled around the world.
4. Have students quickly share their ideas out loud with the rest of the class.
5. Begin a discussion revolving around how scientists might be able to predict the
origination and migratory paths of early humans. Have students access Science in
Context to locate and read the following article:

"Mitochondrial DNA." World of Microbiology and Immunology. Ed. Brenda
Wilmoth Lerner and K. Lee Lerner. Detroit: Gale, 2007. Science in Context.
6. Using the board, diagram how mitochondrial DNA is passed compared to nuclear
DNA, being sure to clarify the purpose of each kind of DNA. Lead students to the
conclusion that mitochondrial DNA passes virtually unchanged through generations
via females; thus, it is an important tool for tracing ancestry.
7. Direct students to Science in Context to locate the following articles:


"Human migration patterns." World of Forensic Science. Ed. K. Lee Lerner and
Brenda Wilmoth Lerner. Detroit: Gale, 2006. Science in Context.
Luiselli, Donata, Marco Sazzini, and Roscoe Stanyon. "Timing the first human
migration into eastern Asia." Journal of Biology 8.18 (2009): 18. Science in
Context.


Wade, Nicholas. "DNA Study Yields Clues on First Migration of Early Humans."
New York Times 13 May 2005: A8(L). Science in Context.
Bower, Bruce. "Mongolian skeleton, western man: 2,000-year-old DNA
suggests early Indo-European migration." Science News 27 Feb. 2010: 14. Science
in Context.
8. Instruct students to divide the articles among the group. Each group member should
read, highlight, and notate their article, and should be prepared to share their
evidence on the migration of humans.
9. After the groups have had ample time to review notes and discuss their articles,
instruct them to pull all of the evidence together on their unused world map. Direct
them to piece together a new map showing the migratory path of early humans
based on the scientific evidence provided in the articles. As before, they should mark
humanity’s location of origin with an “X” and use arrows to show migration patterns.
Students should use color, labels, and/or a key to provide explanatory detail.
10. Instruct the groups to write a brief summary that synthesizes current evidence about
the origin and movement of early humans. Part of this summary should address the
physical differences among people despite origination in similar ancestry.
11. Post the maps and paragraphs and have the groups share their findings.
Steps/Activities by Students
1. With your group, brainstorm ideas about the origin of humans. Identify a group
member to act as recorder to capture and summarize all ideas.
2. At the end of the brainstorming session, mark an “X” on one copy of the world map
to indicate the location where your group feels humans originated. Draw arrows
showing the movement of humans over time, in whatever direction(s) you feel
humans settled around the world. Share these ideas out loud.
3. Participate in the discussion on scientific methods used to predict the origination and
migratory paths of early humans. Access Science in Context to locate and read the
following article:

"Mitochondrial DNA." World of Microbiology and Immunology. Ed. Brenda
Wilmoth Lerner and K. Lee Lerner. Detroit: Gale, 2007. Science in Context.
4. After a discussion of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA, access Science in Context to
locate the following articles:



"Human migration patterns." World of Forensic Science. Ed. K. Lee Lerner and
Brenda Wilmoth Lerner. Detroit: Gale, 2006. Science in Context.
Luiselli, Donata, Marco Sazzini, and Roscoe Stanyon. "Timing the first human
migration into eastern Asia." Journal of Biology 8.18 (2009): 18. Science in
Context.
Wade, Nicholas. "DNA Study Yields Clues on First Migration of Early Humans."
New York Times 13 May 2005: A8(L). Science in Context.

Bower, Bruce. "Mongolian skeleton, western man: 2,000-year-old DNA
suggests early Indo-European migration." Science News 27 Feb. 2010: 14. Science
in Context.
5. Divide the articles among the group. Each group member should read, highlight, and
notate an article, and should be prepared to share their evidence on the migration of
humans.
6. Review notes and discuss among your group. Use the evidence from your articles to
mark up the second copy of the world map. As before, mark humanity’s location of
origin with an “X” and use arrows to show migration patterns. Use color, labels,
and/or a key to provide explanatory detail.
7. As a group, write a brief summary synthesizing current evidence about the origin
and movement of early humans. Part of your summary should address the physical
differences among people despite origination in similar ancestry.
8. Share your findings as directed.
Related Activities

Science
Students research the different branches of humankind and changes to physical
appearance over time.

Social Studies
Use this lesson as a springboard for a discussion of global tolerance and the idea that
humans are the same despite appearances and what people are taught to believe.
Content Standards
Next Generation Science Standards
LS4.D:1. Biodiversity is increased by the formation of new species (speciation) and
decreased by the loss of species (extinction). (secondary to HS-LS2-7)
HS-LS4-1. Communicate scientific information that common ancestry and biological
evolution are supported by multiple lines of empirical evidence.
HS-LS4.CC.1.1. Different patterns may be observed at each of the scales at which a system
is studied and can provide evidence for causality in explanations of phenomena. (HS-LS41), (HS-LS4-3)
HS-ESS2.CNS.1.3. Science includes the process of coordinating patterns of evidence with
current theory. (HS-ESS2-3)
Standards Source: Next Generation Science Standards (2013)
Common Core State Standards
Grades 9-10
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.9-10.2
Determine the central ideas or conclusions of a text;
trace the text's explanation or depiction of a complex process, phenomenon, or concept;
provide an accurate summary of the text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.9-10.4
Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and
other domain-specific words and phrases as they are used in a specific scientific or technical
context relevant to grades 9-10 texts and topics.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.9-10.5
Analyze the structure of the relationships among
concepts in a text, including relationships among key terms (e.g., force, friction, reaction
force, energy).
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.9-10.9
Compare and contrast findings presented in a text to
those from other sources (including their own experiments), noting when the findings
support or contradict previous explanations or accounts.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.9-10.10
By the end of grade 10, read and comprehend
science/technical texts in the grades 9-10 text complexity band independently and
proficiently.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST.9-10.4 Produce clear and coherent writing in which the
development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
Grades 11-12
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.11-12.2
Determine the central ideas or conclusions of a text;
summarize complex concepts, processes, or information presented in a text by paraphrasing
them in simpler but still accurate terms.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.11-12.4
Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and
other domain-specific words and phrases as they are used in a specific scientific or technical
context relevant to grades 11-12 texts and topics.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.11-12.5
Analyze how the text structures information or ideas into
categories or hierarchies, demonstrating understanding of the information or ideas.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.11-12.8
Evaluate the hypotheses, data, analysis, and conclusions
in a science or technical text, verifying the data when possible and corroborating or
challenging conclusions with other sources of information.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.11-12.9
Synthesize information from a range of sources (e.g.,
texts, experiments, simulations) into a coherent understanding of a process, phenomenon,
or concept, resolving conflicting information when possible.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.11-12.10 By the end of grade 12, read and comprehend
science/technical texts in the grades 11-12 text complexity band independently and
proficiently.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST.11-12.4 Produce clear and coherent writing in which the
development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
Standards Source: Common Core State Standards Initiative (2010)