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Island Explorers Curriculum Home

 

Unit 2

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Concepts/Objectives | Vocabulary/Background | Activity | Extension

 

Lesson Plan 2

 (Concepts/Objectives)
"CONVERGENT CONCENTRATION"

QUESTION
Why do some animals which are very different from each other in most ways, share similar characteristics?

UNDERLYING CONCEPT
Ancestrally unrelated animals (species) have independently developed similar characteristics to deal with similar environmental pressures. Examples are wings for flight (such as birds and butterflies) and fins for swimming (such as whales and fish).

SKILLS

  • Identification
  • Analysis and Interpretation

OBJECTIVES

Students will be able to:

  • Select examples of convergent evolution
  • Explain shared characteristics and how these characteristics helped the animal survive.

TIME NEEDED
One 55 minute class period

MATERIALS NEEDED

  • Copies of "Convergent Concentration Game Cards" (Adobe PDF File) depicting examples of convergent evolution.
  • 2 pages (per group) of 81/2 X 11" medium weight construction paper
  • Glue, adhesive
  • Scissors