Alaska Science Performance Standard L2/A13

Alaska Science
Key Element A13

A student who meets the content standard should understand the theory of natural selection as an explanation for evidence of changes in life forms over time (Evolution and Natural Selection).

Performance Standard Level 2, Ages 8–10

Students describe how living organisms have changed over time.

Sample Assessment Ideas

Students use fossil evidence to show how an animal species has changed over time (for example, horse, whale, elephant).
Students reconstruct an animal using a card set of fossilized animal bones.

Expanded Sample Assessment Idea

Expanded Sample Assessment Idea

Students invent a new life form and describe its relatedness to other species.

Procedure Students will: Imagine they have just returned from a scientific expedition and have collected a new species of life. Draw a picture or build a 3-D model of this new organism. Describe the habitat in which the organism was found; describe the specialized body parts that help the organism live in its habitat. Describe how the organism resembles known life forms. Create a piece of fossil evidence that shows how this organism has changed over time. Reflection and Revision What adaptation would the species need to survive in Alaska?	Levels of Performance
	Stage 4	Student work is complete, and shows evidence of logical reasoning. Student drawing or model, explanation, and fossil creation show extensive evidence of knowledge of adaptations and the change of living organisms over time.
	Stage 3	Student work shows evidence of logical reasoning, but may contain minor errors or omissions. Student drawing or model, explanation, and fossil creation show evidence of knowledge of adaptations and the change of living organisms over time.
	Stage 2	Student work may show skilled craftsmanship but is incomplete, incorrect, or may contain errors of science fact or reasoning. Student drawing or model, explanation, and fossil creation show limited evidence of knowledge of adaptations or the change of living organisms over time.
	Stage 1	Student work is largely incomplete, incorrect, shows little evidence of understanding and may contain major misconceptions.

Standards Cross-References
( Alaska Department of Education & Early Development Standards)

National Science Education Standards

An organism’s patterns of behavior are related to the nature of that organism’s environment, including the kinds and numbers of other organisms present, the availability of food and resources, and the physical characteristics of the environment. When the environment changes, some plants and animals survive and reproduce, and others die or move to new locations. (Page 129)

Extinction of a species occurs when the environment changes and the adaptive characteristics of a species are insufficient to allow its survival. Fossils indicate that many organisms that lived long ago are extinct. Extinction of species is common; most of the species that have lived on the Earth no longer exist. (Page 158)

Benchmarks

Individuals of the same kind differ in their characteristics, and sometimes the differences give individuals an advantage in surviving and reproducing. (Page 123)

Fossils can be compared to one another and to living organisms according to their similarities and differences. Some organisms that lived long ago are similar to existing organisms, but some are quite different. (Page 123)

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