Name _________________________________________
Block _______
Evolution Part One: Origin of the Earth and Life
Indiana Standard 8: Evolution
B.8.1 Explain how anatomical and molecular similarities among organisms suggests that life on earth began as
simple, one-celled organisms about 4 billion years ago and multicellular organisms evolved later.
B.8.7 Describe the modern scientific theory of the origins and history of life on earth and evaluate the evidence
that supports it.
Objectives
 Explain the connection between evolution and Biology.
 Compare relative and absolute (radiometric) dating.
 Calculate the half-life of a given isotope.
 Explain why uranium is used to determine the age of the Earth.
 Understand the major categories of the Geologic Time Scale.
 Evaluate the hypotheses that Earth was formed by a condensing nebula.
 Describe the Earth and its atmosphere when formed.
 Evaluate the two hypotheses about the origin of life on Earth (Miller-Urey and Meteorite).
 Explain the role cyanobacteria played in the origin of life on Earth.
 Evaluate the endosymbiotic theory.
 Summarize events in the Hadean Eon, Archean Eon, Paleozoic Era, Mesozoic Era & Cenozoic Era.
 Understand the evolutionary relationships between humans and other primates.
 Match vocabulary words to definitions
Vocabulary
Evolution, relative dating, radiometric dating, isotope, half-life, index fossil, nebula, cyanobacteria, endosymbiosis,
Cambrian explosion, primate, prosimian, anthropoid, hominoid, bipedal.
Created by L. Huth 1
Evolution Part 1: Origin of Earth and Life
Word Bank:
Evolution
Relative Dating
Isotope
Radiometric Dating
Half-life
Index Fossils
Endosymbiosis
Cambrian Explosion
Primate
Prosimian
Anthropoid
Hominoid
Bi-pedal
Across
Note: Leave a blank between words for two word terms.
5. Walks on two legs.
9. Walk upright, have long lower limbs, thumbs that oppose
(work against the other four fingers), and have relatively large
brains.
10. Atoms of an element that have the same number of protons,
but different numbers of neutrons.
11. The gradual development of something, especially from a
simple to a more complex form.
12. Estimate of the age of a fossil based on the location of fossils
in strata.
Down
Note: Leave a blank between words for two word terms.
1. Organisms that existed during specific spans of time over large
geographic areas.
2. The amount of time it takes for half of an isotope to decay into another
element or its product isotope.
3. Earliest part of the Paleozoic era when a huge diversity of animal
species evolved.
4. Human-like primate
6. Mammal with flexible hands and feet, forward looking eyes and
enlarged brains relative to body size.
7. The oldest primate group that includes mostly small nocturnal animals
such as lemurs.
8. Technique that measures the natural decay rate of isotopes to determine
the age of material.
13. Relationship where one organism lives inside the body of another and
they both benefit from the relationship.
Created by L. Huth 2
Introduction
VOCABULARY
Evolution:
What are some things you think about when you hear the term “evolution”?
Why do we learn about evolution in Biology?
“Why Does Evolution Matter?” Video Questions
Why didn’t the anti-biotic resistant bacteria die?
What happened to the anti-biotic resistant bacteria?
What country was depicted where the poor water conditions caused an outbreak of Cholera?
Created by L. Huth 3
Part 1: Origin of the Earth and Life
The Fossil Record
VOCABULARY
Relative Dating:
Isotope:
Radiometric Dating:
Half-life:
How old is the Earth?
What two methods do scientists use to determine the age of fossils?
a. _________________________Dating
b. _________________________Dating
3. How are these two methods different?
Radioactive Decay Lab
Lab html address: http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/radioactive-dating-game
What is the half-life of Carbon 14?
What does Carbon 14 decay into?
What is the half-life of Uranium?
What does Uranium decay into?
Why is Uranium used instead of Carbon 14 to determine the age of the Earth?
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Why did Carbon 14 register at zero percent when measuring the lava rocks from the volcano
eruption in the measurement exercise of the lab?
Why did Carbon 14 register at zero percent when measuring the tree until it died in the
measurement exercise of the lab?
How old were the following specimens in the dating game of your lab?
a. animal skull
b. wooden cup
c. rock 1
d. rock 5
e. one of the living trees
9. Which isotope did you use to measure rock 5 and why did you choose that isotope?
10. What percent does Carbon 14 decay every 5730 years?
VOCABULARY
Index Fossil:
Index Fossil Lab
Lab html Address:
http://www.phschool.com/atschool/phsciexp/active_art/index_fossils/index.html
Note: It is important to read the information next to the scroll bar at the top of the lab.
1. There are two index fossils, what are their names?
2. What makes the index fossils different than the other fossils depicted in the lab?
3. How do index fossils help scientists determine the age of strata around the world?
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Geologic Time Scale
http://www.fossilized.org/instruction/Human%20Fossil%20Record/_sediments_dating.php
Created by L. Huth 6
Hadean Eon - Earth Forms
VOCABULARY
Nebula:
Describe the environment (temperature, land, and atmosphere):
Research and Report:
In a few minutes, write down as many facts about the Hadean Eon as you can find online.
Created by L. Huth 7
Archean Eon - Life Appears on Earth
Research and Report:
In a few minutes, write down as many facts about the Archaen Eon as you can find online.
Explain the Miller Urey Hypothesis:
Explain the Meteorite Hypothesis:
How are the two Organic Molecule Hypotheses different?
VOCABULARY
Cyanobacteria:
How did cyanobacteria change the atmosphere of the Earth?
Created by L. Huth 8
Proterozoic Eon - Multi-celled Organisms Appear
Research and Report:
In a few minutes, write down as many facts about the Proterozoic Eon as you can find online.
VOCABULARY
Endosymbiosis:
Explain the Endosymbiotic Theory:
Paleozoic Era - Cambrian Explosion and Mass Extinction
VOCABULARY
Cambrian Explosion:
Research and Report:
In a few minutes, write down as many facts about the Paleozoic Era as you can find online.
Created by L. Huth 9
Cambrian Explosion Part 1 Video Questions
How many Continents did Simon Conway Norris Explore?
Why are there so many trilobite fossils?
What might have happened at the Burgess Shale causing so many fossils to form?
What was in the alimentary track of the worm (alimentary track is part of its digestive system)?
How many fossils did Charles Wolcott collect?
Cambrian Explosion Part 2 Video Questions
What troubled Charles Darwin about the fossils from the Cambrian Explosion?
What do you think about that?
Created by L. Huth 10
Mass Extinction
What caused the mass extinction of the Paleozoic Era?
What percentage of all life perished?
Mesozoic Era - Age of the Reptiles and Mass Extinction
Research and Report:
In a few minutes, write down as many facts about the Mesozoic Era as you can find online.
What three living things appeared during this era?
What caused the mass extinction ending the Mesozoic Era?
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Cenozoic Era - Age of the Mammals
VOCABULARY
Primate:
Prosimian:
Anthropoid:
Hominoid:
Bipedal:
Research and Report:
In a few minutes, write down as many facts about the Cenozoic Era as you can find online.
Created by L. Huth 12
Evolution Project: Part One
Instructions
Create a presentation with each of the following elements listed below. You MAY use the bold
wording suggested below to guide you through the project.
The presentation may be in form of media you choose (power point, video, poster, illustrated
book or comic strip, essay, etc.).
The presentation must be presented to the class. The verbal portion of your presentation may
be verbal or recorded.
A source page must be included at the end of your presentation. ALL VIDEOS AND PICTURES
MUST BE CITED. This is a great citation engine to use: http://www.easybib.com/
The Project is worth 130 points and will be graded with the following rubric:
Many scientists believe the Earth was formed by a condensing nebula.
Explain this theory, use 1 supporting sources.
10 Points Possible
_____ Points Earned
Another idea is _____________________.
Pick any idea you would like to share, it may support or contradict the previous theory. Use one
credible source to substantiate this idea.
10 Points Possible
_____ Points Earned
Scientists estimate the earth is approximately _____ years old based on radiometric dating.
Explain how radiometric dating is used to determine the Earth’s age.
10 Points Possible
_____ Points Earned
Other evidence shows or suggests _______________.
Use any evidence you would like to share, it may support or contradict the previous theory. Use
one credible source to substantiate this idea.
10 Points Possible
_____ Points Earned
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The fossil record indicates the first life appeared on Earth _____ years ago.
Explain how relative dating, radiometric dating and index fossils are used to determine when life
first appeared.
10 Points Possible
_____ Points Earned
There are many theories about how life first came to be. One is “spontaneous generation”.
Explain the Miller-Urey experiment using one credible source to substantiate this theory.
10 Points Possible
_____ Points Earned
Another widely accepted scientific theory is the “Meteorite Hypothesis”.
Explain the Meteorite Hypothesis using one credible source to substantiate this theory.
10 Points Possible
_____ Points Earned
Others believe ________.
Share another idea about how life was formed, it may support or contradict the previous
theories. Use one credible source to substantiate this idea.
10 Points Possible
_____ Points Earned
Scientists believe cyanobacteria were the first living organisms on Earth playing a crucial role
in changing the Earth’s atmosphere.
Explain how cyanobacteria may have changed the atmosphere using one credible source to
substantiate this idea.
10 Points Possible
_____ Points Earned
Others believe ________.
Share another idea about the first organisms on Earth, it may support or contradict the previous
theories. Use one credible source to substantiate this idea.
10 Points Possible
_____ Points Earned
Created by L. Huth 14
Cyanobacteria are single celled prokaryotes, so Scientists explored ideas of how multicellular,
eukaryotes could have evolved from them. The most widely accepted scientific theory is the
theory of Endosymbiosis.
Explain the Endosymbiotic Theory.
10 Points Possible
_____ Points Earned
Share one example of endosymbiosis OR one idea that contradicts the idea of endosymbiosis
using one credible source substantiating your idea.
10 Points Possible
_____ Points Earned
Source Page
10 Points Possible
_____ Points Earned
130 Total Points Possible
_____ Total Points Earned
This is the end of “Evolution Project Part One”. You will explore the radiation and classification
of life later in the project.
Created by L. Huth 15