Name: John Duplinsky
Grade Level: Secondary
Topic: The Origin of Life
Objectives:
1) Students will investigate different theories on the origin of life.
2) Students will defend/dispute one of the theories on the origin of life.
3) Students will report their findings in the form of a research paper.
Parameters for Essential Instruction and National Standards Alignment:
PEI Standard E: The Living Environment (9-Diploma)
E5) Evolution: Students describe the interactions between and among species,
populations, and environments that lead to natural selection and evolution.
b. Describe the origins of life and how the concept of natural selection
provides a mechanism for evolution that can be advantageous or
disadvantageous to the next generation.
Rationale: Students will be researching different theories on origin of life
Assessment:
Students will be assessed using this rubric for their research paper assignment.
Integration:
This lesson connects to the theory of evolution, the topic of this unit, phylogeny the topic
of the previous lesson. Both of which are governed by the interactions between genes and
the environment, which is an interaction governed by cellular processes, which is all part
of cell theory. All three of these aforementioned topics will have been covered earlier in
the course.
Differentiated Instruction:
Interpersonal: Collaboration with a partner
Intrapersonal: Individual writing assignment
Verbal/Auditory: Class discussion/writing assignment
Modifications/Accommodations
I will review students IEPs and make appropriate modifications and accommodations.
Extensions:
Materials:
Laptops
Biology 5th Ed Campbell, Reese, and Mitchell
Integrates Principles of Zoology 13th Ed. Hickman, Roberts, Larson, I’Anson, and
Eisenhour
Sources for Lesson Plan and Research:
Self.
Rubric Source: http://www.louisianavoices.org/Unit3/edu_unit3_rubric_research.html
Maine Standards for Initial Teacher Certification and Rationale
Standard 4: Plans instruction based upon knowledge of subject matter, students,
curriculum goals, and learning and development theory.
Rationale: I am teaching this lesson to meet the curriculum goals set by the Maine
PEI’s. I am using my knowledge of the subject and learning theory to best meet
the students needs by using the 7E model.
Standard 5: Understands and uses a variety of instructional strategies and appropriate
technology to meet students’ needs.
Rationale: I am employing the use of the technology available to me by using
computers and texts as a resource for students research.
Standard 8: Understands and uses a variety of formal and informal assessment strategies
to evaluate and support the development of the learner.
Rationale: I will be formally assessing the students based on a rubric, in addition
this I will be informally assessing the students’ by reading what they have written
on their butcher’s paper .
Game Plan:
Elicit: We have talked about evolution and the mechanisms that drive evolutionary
change. Now let’s think about where it all began. Please write down any ideas you have
about the origin of life, i.e. theories that you may have heard of, ideas you have of your
own.
Engage: Write student ideas on board, supplement with additional information if
necessary.
Explore: Look at the list of ideas on the board. If one is particularly interesting to you
look it up in a textbook, online, etc. Find at least two different sources that talk about how
life began on earth. Share with a partner what you found and write your findings on
butcher paper.
Some links that may be useful:
http://www.chem.duke.edu/~jds/cruise_chem/Exobiology/sites.html
http://sps.nus.edu.sg/~leekeanl/lkl.htm
http://science.jrank.org/pages/4910/Origin-Life-Theories-origin-life.html
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/origins/knoll.html
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/origins/
Explain: Post the butcher paper on the board and have a classroom discussion on the
different theories of how life began.
Elaborate: Explanation of the specific mechanisms that each theory suggests lead to the
first living organisms.
Evaluate: Students pick one of the theories discussed and write a short essay discussing
why they agree or disagree with it.
Extend: Homework Assignment: Research one theory of the origin of life in detail. Find
at least three good sources* and write a research paper on the topic that is 2-3 pages.
*A good source is something that is published in an accredited text (scientific journal,
textbook, an educational institution’s website etc.) NOT wikipedia, a personal website,
blog etc.