Evolution

In this Surf Report you will find a selection of excellent websites about evolution and natural selection, including archaeological and genetic evidence that is helping to piece together the story of the origin of species.

Quick Links:  High School | Elementary School | Teachers

High School

Becoming Human provides a great introduction to human evolution. The Interactive Documentary is rich with audio and video and includes neat features like 360° rotating skulls, video tour of a dig site, interviews with scientists and more. The Interactive Timeline highlights archaeological evidence of human evolution over seven million years. A set of classroom materials includes anatomy handouts and a student activity. This site is from the Institute of Human Origins.

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History's What does it mean to be human? site explores the research and evidence on human evolution with an interactive timeline, virtual exploration of fossils and dig sites, videos, lesson plans and more. This is an online version of much of the content of the Human Origins exhibit in the Smithsonian museum in Washington D.C.

NOVA's Evolution site features lots of short animations, videos and timelines about the evolution of plants and animals. At the new beta Evolution site you can watch an entire two-hour NOVA evolution video and find additional interactives.

Evolution 101 from the University of California Museum of Paleontology's Understanding Evolution site provides a simple, illustrated guide to evolution and how it works. Check out the Survival of the Sneakiest comic strip. Many resources for teachers are also included.

The Human Origins site from the Dolan DNA Learning Center includes substantial in-depth information and multimedia features exploring the genetic aspects of human evolution. Interesting features include a visual human family tree, interactive maps of human migrations, a slideshow exploring genetic diversity, and video interviews with scientists.

Teachers Domain features a variety of video clips, interactives and lesson plans on Evolution and Biological Diversity.

Human Beginnings from the BBC collects a number of human evolution resources, including an article on Lucy and a guide to early hominids.

The American Museum of Natural History provides an evolutionary tree for Vertebrate Evolution, which includes a brief description of different features and how or when they evolved.

The Complete Works of Charles Darwin Online contains over 1,000 illustrations as well as the full text of The Origin of Species, Darwin's journals from the Beagle voyage, and much more.

The Human Family Tree from National Geographic follows the complete ancestral history of seven people from Queens, New York. Additional features include a timeline of human migration and short videos about evolution, genetics and human migration.

National Geographic's Genographic Project seeks to analyze the DNA of hundreds of thousands of people in order to trace ancient human migration and learn more about human genetic origins.

Travels in the Great Tree of Life from Yale's Peabody Museum of Natural History explores the complex relationships that link all living organisms. Features include a 10-minute video about the study of phylogeny, the Tree of Life.

The French Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique presents a multimedia exploration titled Darwin: A naturalist's voyage around the world. (A fast connection is necessary to view this show in "continuous mode.") The presentation traces Darwin's voyage through maps, photographs, historic drawings, explanations and excerpts from Darwin's journals.

Advanced Biology students can download and use Aipotu, an open source software program that simulates the genetics, biochemistry, molecular biology, and evolution of organisms.

The Conflict Between Religion and Evolution from the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life presents an overview of issues relating to religious views on evolution.

Elementary and Middle School

Discover with Darwin from Scholastic and the American Museum of Natural History sends students on a virtual voyage of discovery about evolution. Students find clues in photographs, answer questions in a printable field journal, and can complete the study by doing a presentation or research paper. A teacher's guide is included.

The British Museum of Natural History Human Evolution site offers these fascinating features to help students get up close and personal with our ancient ancestors:

• 3D Hominid skulls Interactive
• Augmented Reality Neanderthal - requires a webcam
• Augmented Reality of Lucy - requires a webcam
• Interactive Tree of Life

This Natural Selection simulation from the University of Colorado PhET science interactive collection allows students to explore natural selection by controlling the environment and causing mutations in rabbits.

Teachers Domain features a variety of video clips, interactives and lesson plans on Evolution and Biological Diversity.

Evolution Readiness from the Concord Consortium features computer based models to help students learn about natural selection and how organisms interact with each other and their environments. These interactives were designed for the 4th grade level and can be downloaded to PC or Mac.

Zoo Matchmaker from the Minnesota Zoo lets students play the role of zookeepers trying to save endangered tigers by using genetic information to decide which animals to breed to control inbreeding and prevent the loss of genetic diversity in the population. The site includes background information, worksheets and other teacher materials.

Nowhere to Hide demonstrates the role natural selection plays in evolution using the classic story of the moths that evolved to match the colors of trees darkened by soot during the Industrial Revolution. This simple animation is from Science Netlinks.

The American Museum of Natural History's Ology website for kids includes an interactive Tree of Life or cladogram (look near the bottom of the page).

The Smithsonian Museum of Natural History's exhibit The Evolution of Evolution presents easy-to-read descriptions of evolution, natural selection and information about Charles Darwin.

The Darwin Day site from the International Darwin Day foundation includes information on Charles Darwin's life, as well as excerpts from his writing on the role of natural selection in the evolution of species.

Teachers

Science NetLinks provides a collection of lesson plans and activities about Charles Darwin and The Origin of Species.

The MUSE Natural Selection website offers extensive high school curriculum materials. This site was developed by the National Center for Mathematics and Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Teach Evolution and Make it Relevant from the University of Montana contains background information for teachers and lesson ideas on human evolution, heredity, speciation and other topics.

The actionbioscience.org website provides peer-reviewed articles and lesson plans for science teachers on various topics including Evolution.

Created 09/01/11
Last updated 09/01/11