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K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Paleoanthropology - What is bipedalism?

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/17/g35/alemseged1.html

A lesson plan for grades 3 and 5 Science

Provider: National Geographic


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In this Xpeditions lesson students explore paleoanthropology, a highly complex field in which each related discipline influences and furthers each of the others. Activities in this lesson engage students in whole class discussion, online learning, working in pairs, and creation of a final presentation to display knowledge gained by assignments.

Students will:

  • learn about the life and work of paleoanthropologist, Zeray Alemseged;
  • explain how Alemseged’s cultural and life experiences influenced his career choice and locations of study;
  • explore different aspects of paleoanthropology through online resources including an interactive documentary; and
  • describe the ways in which bipedalism is thought to have developed in hominids and, in turn, how bipedalism influenced the development of hominids.

Xpeditions provides detailed directions for completing the lesson, suggestions for assessment and extension activities, discussion questions, and links to helpful web resources.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

Science (2005)

Grade 3

  • Goal 4: The learner will conduct investigations and use appropriate technology to build an understanding of the form and function of the skeletal and muscle systems of the human body.
    • Objective 4.04: Describe how different kinds of joints allow movement and compare this to the movement of mechanical devices.
    • Objective 4.05: Observe and describe how muscles cause the body to move.

Grade 4

  • Goal 1: The learner will make observations and conduct investigations to build an understanding of animal behavior and adaptation.
    • Objective 1.04: Explain and discuss how humans and other animals can adapt their behavior to live in changing habitats.