Sample Lesson 1

What’s the Story of How Plants and Animals Change Over Time?

In a population of plants or animals, physical traits may change over time.

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Big Idea

An illustration of okapis under trees with the text "Many hundreds of years ago".
An illustration of okapis under trees with the text "Nowadays".

Activity

Students observe and compare “Many hundreds of years ago” and “Nowadays” images of four animal populations in their environments. Using these images as evidence that traits in populations may change over time, they share their initial ideas about how this might happen.

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Materials to Have Ready

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Icon of a small group of people

For each student

  • A science notebook

  • Notebook pages 2-3

For each small group

  • Many Hundreds of Years Ago image (2 copies) for the group’s assigned animal (cane toads, owls, guppies, or okapis)

  • 2 copies of the Nowadays image for the group’s assigned animal (cane toads, owls, guppies, or okapis)

Materials to Download

“The lessons build so nicely on one another. I really like the variety of methods and practices built into this curriculum.”

- H.D., 3rd Grade Teacher