Introduction
Welcome. Over the next couple of days, be prepared to embark on an epic journey through the mysteries of ancient science. So follow me, and here we go...
Task
Your job is to go on to the following websites and watch the video, sucking up information about vestigial structures and storing them in your mind. Then, choose at least three vestigial structures the sources talked about and create a poster with visuals explaining each example. Later, you will write a paragraph explaining how vestigial structures helped people learn more about evolution and ancient ancestors.
http://www.livescience.com/11317-top-10-useless-limbs-vestigial-organs…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAfw3akpRe8
http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/darwin/evolution-today/how-do-we-know-l…
https://online.science.psu.edu/biol011_sandbox_7239/node/7338
https://answersingenesis.org/human-body/vestigial-organs/vestigial-orga…
Process
Day 1 : Go to the first website and take notes on the vestigial structures listed. The, choose one specific example and draw a picture displaying and explaining it. Then, answer the corresponding questions on the teacher's page.
Day 2 : Watch the video ( you do not need to take notes for this ). Then, go to the last website listed and do the same thing you did for day 1. Then, answer the corresponding questions on the teacher's page.
Day 3 : Go to the next website and take notes on any new vestigial structures you have not taken notes on already. Choose another example and draw a picture explaining it (do not forget lables!). Then, answer the corresponding questions on the teacher's page.
Day 4 : Go on to the secon to last website and do the same thing you did the day before. Choose another example and create yet another illustration explaining the structure. Then, answer the corresponding questions on the teacher's page.
Day 5 : Tie together all of the facts you have learned from the websites and video on a poster. Don't forget the three examples and thier pictures.
Day 6 ( the final day ) : Write the conclusion paragraph that must include at leat 10 sentences.
Evaluation
Grading expectations
Examples, pictures, and notes : It will be graded on participation and accuracy. __ points out of 5
Poster : It will be graded on participation, accuracy, creativity, and neatness. __ points out of 20
Paragraph : It will be graded on participation, accuracy, correct grammar, and must have at least 10 sentences. __ points out of 15
Overall Participation : It will be graded on the student's participation on the project overall. __ points out of 10
Total : ___
Conclusion
After the project is over, the students will have a good understanding of what a vestigial structure is, how it gave us clues about evolution and ancient ancestory, and specific examples of vestigial structures. It spans over a couple of days and is sort of long, but will hopefully be a fun project overall.
Credits
http://www.livescience.com/11317-top-10-useless-limbs-vestigial-organs…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAfw3akpRe8
http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/darwin/evolution-today/how-do-we-know-l…
https://online.science.psu.edu/biol011_sandbox_7239/node/7338
https://answersingenesis.org/human-body/vestigial-organs/vestigial-orga…
Teacher Page
A grading rubric is included on the evaluation page. All of these websites and the video are reliable sources. This webquest was created by me ( a student ) as a school project for my science class, but you can also use it for a project for something else, whether you are a teacher looking for something to do with your class, or student looking for facts on vestigial structures. Thanks for watching!
Questions
Day 1 : Name at least 3 vestigial structures found in humans.
Why did our ancestors most likely need wisdom teeth?
Why is the erector pili not useful to us, but useful to other creatures?
Day 2 : Who is Charles Darwin?
What were some of the examples of vestigial structures listed in Darwin's book?
How did he describe vestigial structures in his first book?
Day 3 : What is a clue that snakes descended from early lizards?
What is believed to be a remnant of a larger, plant-digesting structure found in our ancestors?
What might have caused the Astyanax mexicanus to go blind?
Day 4 : Define vestigial structures.
What vestigial structure shows that we probably descended from animals that ate a lot of plants?
Why do flightless birds still have wings?