PBS All in the Family Web Activity

Go to the website:

**Answer all of the questions on the paper provided**

1)What was one of Darwin’s revolutionary ideas?

Click onHow are all living things related?

2) Describe the first common ancestor of all living things and when it lived.

Click on On the surface, it may not look like all living things are related. But looks can be deceiving.

3) Keep in mind that all close relatives do not look alike. What is one of the elephant’s closest living relatives?

Click on See if you can pick the closest relatives out of a lineup.

4) Click each of the two organisms that you think are the closes relatives. These pictures will appear on an evolutionary tree. The remaining species will move into position on the remaining branch.

a) In the bottom of the box, there is a “Tools” list. First click on “Full view” under the Appearance column and then click on each of the organisms. In the table provided write at least three descriptive observations of each.

b) Then under the Anatomy column, click on “Limbs”. Even though the overall form of a limb or fin may change, internal structures, like the skeleton, often retain nearly their original forms.

Click on Compare skeletal structures….

By clicking on each of the organismsdescribe in detail the anatomical structures that are found in each of their limbs in the table provided.

c) Repeat the previous step to compare the “Jaws” and “Cranium”.

d) Based on evidence from your observations, would you change anything? Click and drag the two organisms you think are most closely related to the upper 2 boxes of the tree. In the table provided……

-NOW write your CLAIM as to what organisms you think are closely related.

-THEN explain why your CLAIM is right based on EVIDENCE you collected.

Find the box on the bottom left ClickCheck your answer: Were you correct? Why or why not? Record your answer on the paper provided.

Click on What does this have to do with the “tree of life?”

5)How do you know how to organize the tree? (answer on the paper provided)

Click on How can you know which group branched off first?

6) How do you know which branches came first? Write down some notes. (answer on the paper provided)

Click on What living relatives do dolphins……

Click on Build another tree

7)Build another tree – go through all of the steps and explain in the table provided which organisms are most closely related.

Before moving on make your claim and support your claim with evidence on the paper provided.

Check your answer: Were you correct? Why or why not? Record your answer on the paper provided

Click onLearn more about evolutionary trees

8) Write some notes about evolutionary trees:(take notes on the paper provided)

X out of the box top right corner

Click on Learn more about outgroups

9)Write some notes about out-groups:(take notes on the paper provided)

10)Build another tree - go through all of the steps and explain in the table provided which organisms are most closely related.

Before moving on make your claim and support your claim with evidence on the paper provided.

Check your answer: Were you correct? Why or why not? Record your answer on the paper provided

Click onReview the big idea

11)Review the Big Idea and jot down some notes:(take notes on the paper provided)

Complete the worksheet provided by answering questions 12 & 13.

Name:______Period:____

PBS All in the Family Web Activity

1) What was one of Darwin’s revolutionary idea?

2) Describe the first common ancestor of all living things and when it lived.

3) What is one of the elephant’s closest living relatives?

4) a-c Observations Comparing Anatomical Structures within Species

Compare the following / Dolphin / Wolf / Shark
Appearance
(at least 3)
Limbs
Jaws
Cranium

4) d. Which two species do you think are most closely related? Write your claim and evidence to support your claim.

CLAIM / EVIDENCE

Were you correct? Why or why not?

______

5)How do you know how to organize the tree?

6) How do you know which branches came first? Write down some notes.

7) Observations Comparing Anatomical Structures within Species

Compare the: / Raccoon / Bear / Opossum / Echidna
Appearance
Anatomy
Development
Molecular

Which two species do you think are most closely related?

CLAIM / EVIDENCE

Were you correct? Why or why not?

______

8)Write some notes about evolutionary trees:

9)Write some notes about out-groups:

10)Build another tree - go through all of the steps and explain which organisms are most closely related.

Compare the: / Human / Sponge / Tunicate / Choanoflagellate
Appearance
Anatomy
Development
Molecular

Which two species do you think are most closely related?

CLAIM / EVIDENCE

Were you correct? Why or why not?

______

11)Review the Big Idea and jot down some notes:

12) What was the most surprising thing you learned in doing this activity?

13)How does what you have learned from the trees we have drawn impact your understanding of how living things are related?