Over time, animals have adapted to long-term changes in their environment in order for future generations to survive. One example of this adaptation that's found in the Pacific Northwest is located in the Hagerman Fossil Beds. These fossil beds have provided scientists some of the best fossil records documenting how horses have changed over time. In this unit, you will learn about evolution, species adaptation, and the evidence that scientists use to evaluate fossils that document the changes a species makes over time.
Unit Learning Objectives
In this course, you will be able to
- differentiate between microevolution and macroevolution
- describe the process of natural selection
- understand how species change over a long period of time.
Expected Learning Outcomes
At the end of this unit, you will be able to
- describe the stages of fossil evidence
- identify the four patterns of macro-evolution
- apply your knowledge of horse fossils to build an information board that documents the history of horse evolution
- use current horse genetics to predict future changes in racehorse breeding.
Resources:
This class uses a variety of resources that you will need to access on a regular basis to. I have made every attempt to provide very clear instructions, but if you have any troubles or questions, please contact me so that I help you.
Odysseyware (OW): This is your primary resource for the curriculum. Please make sure you have your id and password available (contact the registrar if you need this).
Gizmo: using an interactive forum, you will have the opportunity to explore specific ideas in greater detail.
BaseCamp: This is an interactive poster board that you can work with partners to create projects.
Thoroughbredtimes: here you will find an online journal that documents current trends and news in racehorse breeding.
Unit One: Historical Geology
Assignment: Read the Historical Geology section in OW and answer the questions at the end of the chapter.
Register at Thoroughbredtimes and begin gathering data for your final project.
Unit Two: Evolution
Assignment: Read Evolution section in OW and complete the answers at the end of the chapter.
Quiz: Take the Observational Science Quiz.
Unit Three: Evidence of Evolution
Assignment: Read Evidence of Evolution section in OW and complete the questions at the end of the unit.
BaseCamp Posting: Research the Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument; go on a virtual tour, and create a travel poster. This poster should include the following: photographs of the fossil beds, historical background; geographic data (elevation, climate biosphere, etc.), and scientifically significant discoveries about horses that have been made in Hagerman.
Resources that you can access to get you started but feel free to research other resources as well:
- Hagerman Fossil Beds
- Fossil History of Hagerman
- Hiking Through Hagerman
- Horse Evolution
- General Resources
Unit Four: Other Methods of Evolution
Assignment: Read Other Methods of Evolution in OW and complete the questions at the end of the unit.
Project: Complete the Natural Selection Project that is found in OW. Record the results of your experiment on a spreadsheet (found in the Google Docs platform) and using the
Gizmo: Log into Gizmo and complete the Natural Selection Gizmo. After completing the Gizmo, email the worksheet in, using a filled in word document, directly to my email account.
Unit Five: Speciation
Assignment: Read the Speciation section in OW and complete the questions at the end of the unit.
Gizmo: Complete the Human Evolution Skull Analysis Gizmo to analyze changes in skull fossils. After completing the Gizmo, email the worksheet in, using a filled in word document, directly to my email account.
Quiz: Take the Life Over Time Quiz in OW.
Final Project:
Working in a pre-assigned group, create an online poster documenting horse evolution and present your class project to the class via a web-conference that will be scheduled on (to be announced via the discussion board). In your research, identify how horses have changed over the course of time and how breeding is being used change the physiology of horses.
Unit Test:
Upon completion of the entire unit, there will be a culminating test over everything you have learned. I will be opening this test up at the end of the week two for you to access online. The link can be found here.
