Name:_____________________________________
Group #:__________________________________
Research Topic:__________________________
Date:___________
Evidence for Evolution Jigsaw
In this evolution activity, your team will investigate different types of evidence for evolution. Your
team will be responsible for learning about fossil evidence, structural evidence and genetic
evidence for evolution and presenting this information to the class in small groups and whole class
discussion.
The Process:
1. You will be assigned to a group of five researchers. Each member of the group will specialize either
in Homologous & Analogous Structures, Biogeography, Fossil Evidence, Molecular Evidence, or
Embryology.
2. Each member of the group will the split up and meet up with the research from each of the other
groups that shares their same research topic (For example, the researching from each group focusing
on Fossil Evidence will all meet up with each other to discuss the findings of their independent
research)
5. Each group will be given a list of websites to study that apply to your specialty.
6. Each group will be responsible for finding four to five examples of evidence for evolution. Find
specific examples, so that when you discuss your ideas with the class you have different examples to
share. Include the date on which the evidence was discovered. Fill in the graphic organizer “Evidence
of Evolution Examples.”
7. Once the research is completed, researchers will meet with the other researchers working on their
specialty (i.e. Fossil Evidence). You will work together to discuss and exchange ideas and clarify
misunderstandings. It will be your job to go back to your home group to teach the rest in your group
about your type of evidence. This is your opportunity to share ideas and ask your peers questions,
before presenting the information to your home groups.
8. Everyone will return to their home groups. Each group will “jigsaw,” and you will transition to a
second small group with one researcher representing each of the three specialties. Each person in the
new group will present their evidence for evolution from their perspective to the other members of
the group. Copy the graphic organizer on “Evidence for Evolution,” onto a piece of poster paper using
markers. Fill in the graphic organizer together.
8. Each group will present their chart to the class. You will end class with a whole class discussion on
evidence for evolution from the five perspectives.
You are responsible for:
1. Researching your assigned topic
2. While researching, fill in your graphic organizer. Be sure to have a clear definition of your
type of evidence, 4-5 relevant and clear examples of your evidence. You will also need
pictures/images to support your explanations.
3. Once you are done researching, you will meet with your research topic group to discuss your
findings and clarify your understanding of your topic. At this point, you should include any
additional information you learn from your topic group to your graphic organizer.
4. While with your topic group, each member will create a informational poster to be sued to
teach your home group about your evidence research topic and examples. Be sure to include
graphics.
5. Finally, you will meet with your home group. You will be responsible for teaching your home
group about your topic. Be prepared to explain your evidence in detail and to answer
questions as needed.
6. While your home group teaches you, you will be responsible for filling in the missing
portions of your graphic organizer.
7. Finally, each group will present their evidence to the class and take part in a whole class
discuss on the evidence for evolution.
To complete your research:
-Use your textbook to begin
-Use your Bozeman Video Notes (#4: Evidence for Evolution)
- Then visit the websites outlines below for your assigned topic (or your own
searches, google: "evolution evidence <topic>) to further your research and
understanding:
1. Homologous and Analogous structures (p
):
- http://bioweb.cs.earlham.edu/9-12/evolution/HTML/live.html
- http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/educators/lessons/lesson3/act2.html
- http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/04/2/l_042_01.html
- http://www.evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/similarity_hs_01
2. Biogeography (p
):
- http://bioweb.cs.earlham.edu/9-12/evolution/HTML/live.html
- http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/educators/lessons/lesson3/act2.html
- http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/fosrec/Filson.html
- http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/04/1/l_041_01.html
3. Fossil Evidence (p
):
- http://bioweb.cs.earlham.edu/9-12/evolution/HTML/live.html
- http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/educators/lessons/lesson3/act2.html
- http://www.actionbioscience.org/evolution/benton2.html
4. Molecular Evidence (p
):
- http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/educators/lessons/lesson3/act2.html
- http://txtwriter.com/Backgrounders/Evolution/EVpage13.html
5. Embryology (p
):
- http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/04/2/l_042_03.html
- http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/04/2/l_042_02.html