Animals and their Ancestors

Part 1
Ask questions and make predictions
Part 2
Plan and investigate
Part 3
Record and analyse data
Part 4
Evaluate the information
Part 5
Communicate and share ideas

Information for Teachers

Curriculum links

Australian Science Standards

BS (ACSSU72) Observations of living things as they move through their life cycles
BS (ACSSU72) Differences between living, once living and products of living things
BS (ACSSU73) Living things depend on each other and the environment

New Zealand Science Achievement Objectives

LW: The basic process by which genetic information is passed from one generation to another
NS: Scientists’ investigations are informed by current science theories and aim to collect evidence that will be interpreted through processes of logical argument

 

Helpful websites

You may want to direct your students to websites to help with their investigations.

Students can use words like these in doing their search:

The+evolution+of+bears

https://www.bearsinmind.org/Page/The-evolution-of-bear-species

How to search the internet

1 Keep your request short

Fewer words will give a more accurate search.

2 Choose exactly what you want

For example: Arctic Circle Climate

3 Use quotes

Double quotes around a set of words tell the search engine to consider those exact words in that exact order without any change. For example: “Arctic Circle Climate”

4 Use the plus sign (+)

If you add a plus sign (+) between words, the internet will search for all the words. For example: migrate+birds+whales+mammal

5 Use the minus sign (–) to say what you don’t want

Use a minus sign (–) to show words you do not want to appear in your results. For example: if you search for burrowing animals and do not want mammals in your search,  –mammals will exclude mammals. Note that you need to put a space before the minus sign for the word to be excluded.

6 Be very clear about what you don’t want

Part 1
Ask questions and make predictions

After reading Animals and their Ancestors, you may be surprised about the amazing changes that led to a modern animal.

List your questions

  • Compare your list with questions that others have.
  • Choose a question you would like to investigate.
  • You can work alone, with a partner, or in a small group.

You may want to choose one or more of these questions to investigate

Q1. Choose a family of animals developed from a common ancestor that come in many shapes and sizes today. For example, dogs.

Q2. Find out how farm animals have been carefully bred by farmers to meet their farming needs. For example: cows to provide more milk or meat, sheep to provide more wool or meat, and pigs to provide more meat.

Q3. Find more information about animals that look much the same as they did millions of years ago.

Go to Part 2 Plan and investigate →