Paleo-what? The life and work of Emerging Explorer Zeray Alemseged
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/17/g912/
alemseged1.html
A lesson plan for Grades 8–12 Earth/Environmental Science, Biology, and
About this resource
- Appropriate grades
- 8–12
- Subjects
- science (environmental science), thinking skills (information literacy, research skills), education technology (integrating technology), teaching methods (cooperative learning, discussions, online learning)
- Provider
- National Geographic
Legal
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In this Xpeditions lesson, students explore the field of paleontology. Activities in this lesson engage students in online research, consideration of professional careers, collaborative group work, whole class discussion, and creation of presentations.
Students will:
- learn about the life and work of 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
- identify relationships between various aspects of paleoanthropology and how gathering information about each aspect (e.g., anatomy, culture, climate) can help scientists understand more about each of the others.
Xpeditions provides detailed instructions for completing the lesson, suggestions for assessment and extension activities, and links to helpful web resources and related lessons.
North Carolina Curriculum Alignment
Science (2005)
Grade 8
- Goal 5: The learner will conduct investigations and utilize appropriate technologies and information systems to build an understanding of evidence of evolution in organisms and landforms.
- Objective 5.03: Examine evidence that the geologic evolution has had significant global impact including:
- Distribution of living things.
- Major geological events.
- Mechanical and chemical weathering.
- Objective 5.03: Examine evidence that the geologic evolution has had significant global impact including:
Grades 9–12 — Biology
- Goal 3: The learner will develop an understanding of the continuity of life and the changes of organisms over time.
- Objective 3.05: Examine the development of the theory of evolution by natural selection including:
- Development of the theory.
- The origin and history of life.
- Fossil and biochemical evidence.
- Mechanisms of evolution.
- Applications (pesticide and antibiotic resistance).
- Objective 3.05: Examine the development of the theory of evolution by natural selection including:
Grades 9–12 — Earth/Environmental Science
- Goal 1: The learner will develop abilities necessary to do and understand scientific inquiry in the earth and environmental sciences.
- Objective 1.02: Design and conduct scientific investigations to answer questions related to earth and environmental science.
- Create testable hypotheses
- Identify variables.
- Use a control or comparison group when appropriate.
- Select and use appropriate measurement tools.
- Collect and record data.
- Organize data into charts and graphs.
- Analyze and interpret data.
- Communicate findings.
- Objective 1.02: Design and conduct scientific investigations to answer questions related to earth and environmental science.
- Goal 3: The learner will build an understanding of the origin and evolution of the earth system.
- Objective 3.01: Assess evidence to interpret the order and impact of events in the geologic past:
- Relative and absolute dating techniques.
- Statistical models of radioactive decay.
- Fossil evidence of past life.
- Uniformitarianism.
- Stratigraphic principles.
- Divisions of Geologic Time
- Origin of the earth system.
- Origin of life.
- Objective 3.01: Assess evidence to interpret the order and impact of events in the geologic past:
