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Other Field Trip Activities

Exploring Evolution in the Museum

For Middle Schools

Biological evolution is a process that underlies all of modern biological sciences. There are many opportunities for students to explore how evidence supports the theory of evolution, how modern classification relates to evolutionary relationships, and the evolutionary stories of many organisms.

The attached document in PDF format provides suggested focus questions and activities along with the name of exhibit(s) and program(s) in which they can be explored. We selected these programs and exhibits based on the standards connections listed here. They were developed to help you focus your students in order to connect these experiences with the content they are learning.

We encourage you to substitute key questions from your own curriculum. You can find more information about many of these exhibits and programs by opening the download and clicking on the links within.

Format Field Trip Activity
Grades 5 – 8
Author Museum of Science Educators
Location n/a
Website n/a
Duration Varies
Documents MOS_Exploring_Evolution.pdf

Exploring Evolution in the Museum

+ View Detailed Standard Connections

Primary Connections:

National Science Education Standards (1996)
(National)

  • Life Science > Diversity and adaptations of organisms (Grade: 5 – 8)
  • Life Science > Regulation and behavior (Grade: 5 – 8)
  • Unifying Concepts and Processes > Evolution and equilibrium (Grade: K – 12)
  • Life Science > Diversity and adaptations of organisms (Grade: 5 – 8)
  • Life Science > Diversity and adaptations of organisms (Grade: 5 – 8)

Secondary Connections:

National Science Education Standards (1996)
(National)

  • Life Science > Reproduction and heredity (Grade: 5 – 8)
  • Life Science > Regulation and behavior (Grade: 5 – 8)

– View Concise Standard Connections

Primary Connections:

National Science Education Standards (1996)
(National)

  • Life Science > Diversity and adaptations of organisms (Grade: 5 – 8)
    Biological evolution accounts for the diversity of species developed through gradual processes over many generations. Species acquire many of their unique characteristics through biological adaptation, which involves the selection of naturally occurring variations in populations. Biological adaptations include changes in structures, behaviors, or physiology that enhance survival and reproductive success in a particular environment.
  • Life Science > Regulation and behavior (Grade: 5 – 8)
    An organism's behavior evolves through adaptation to its environment. How a species moves, obtains food, reproduces, and responds to danger are based in the species' evolutionary history.
  • Unifying Concepts and Processes > Evolution and equilibrium (Grade: K – 12)
    Evolution is a series of changes, some gradual and some sporadic, that accounts for the present form and function of objects, organisms, and natural and designed systems. The general idea of evolution is that the present arises from materials and forms of the past. Although evolution is most commonly associated with the biological theory explaining the process of descent with modification of organisms from common ancestors, evolution also describes changes in the universe. Equilibrium is a physical state in which forces and changes occur in opposite and off-setting directions: for example, opposite forces are of the same magnitude, or off-setting changes occur at equal rates. Steady state, balance, and homeostasis also describe equilibrium states. Interacting units of matter tend toward equilibrium states in which the energy is distributed as randomly and uniformly as possible.
  • Life Science > Diversity and adaptations of organisms (Grade: 5 – 8)
    Millions of species of animals, plants, and microorganisms are alive today. Although different species might look dissimilar, the unity among organisms becomes apparent from an analysis of internal structures, the similarity of their chemical processes, and the evidence of common ancestry.
  • Life Science > Diversity and adaptations of organisms (Grade: 5 – 8)
    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.

Secondary Connections:

National Science Education Standards (1996)
(National)

  • Life Science > Reproduction and heredity (Grade: 5 – 8)
    Reproduction is a characteristic of all living systems; because no individual organism lives forever, reproduction is essential to the continuation of every species. Some organisms reproduce asexually. Other organisms reproduce sexually.
  • Life Science > Regulation and behavior (Grade: 5 – 8)
    Behavior is one kind of response an organism can make to an internal or environmental stimulus. A behavioral response requires coordination and communication at many levels, including cells, organ systems, and whole organisms. Behavioral response is a set of actions determined in part by heredity and in part from experience.

Exploring Evolution in the Museum

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Exploring Evolution in the Museum

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Exploring Evolution in the Museum

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