Appendix: Alignment to Educational Standards
The movement toward Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) drives educators to find ways for students to demonstrate their knowledge rather than regurgitate facts. Likewise, Common Core goals encourage building strengths between skills and content. In the unit proposed, students apply each of the components of Common Core goals including citing evidence, evaluating hypotheses, and presenting claims. Students creatively and collaboratively work to draw conclusions, while faced with open-ended questions. This section lists the NGSS and Common Core standards addressed by this unit.
Objectives for this unit are for students to perform the following tasks: 1) assess similarities in anatomical structures of species, 2) gather (document) data relevant to observations, and 3) defend inferences using the evidence gathered from those observations. Each of these three supports the cross-cutting concepts guided by the NGSS.
Next Generation Science Standards
HS-LS4-1 Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity
Communicate scientific information that common ancestry and biological evolution are supported by multiple lines of empirical evidence.
HS-LS4-4 Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity
Construct an explanation based on evidence for how natural selection leads to adaptation of populations.
HS-LS4-5 Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity
Evaluate the evidence supporting claims that changes in environmental conditions may result in: (1) increases in the number of individuals of some species, (2) the emergence of new species over time, and (3) the extinction of other species.
Common Core State Standards (California)
College and Career Readiness Anchor Standards for Writing
8. Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources, assess the credibility and accuracy of each source, and integrate the information while avoiding plagiarism.
9. Draw evidence from literary and/or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
Production and Distribution of Writing
Use technology, including the Internet, to produce, publish, and update individual or shared writing products in response to ongoing feedback, including new arguments or information
Speaking and Listening Standards
Present information, findings, and supporting evidence (e.g., reflective, historical investigation, response to literature presentations), conveying a clear and distinct perspective and a logical argument, such that listeners can follow the
line of reasoning, alternative or opposing perspectives are addressed, and the organization, development, substance, and style are appropriate to purpose, audience, and a range of formal and informal tasks. Use appropriate eye contact, adequate volume, and clear pronunciation.
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