Evolution WebQuest
General
Evolution is defined as the process by which populations accumulate inherited changes over time. Because of evolution scientists think that all living things share a common ancestor. The goal of this WebQuest is to have the student look at this subject as a scientist and make intelligent, science-based decisions about the information presented. Detailed instructions for this two-task project are found below. Further requirements and procedures can be found by viewing the Instructions page.
Task 1 - The WebQuest
Complete the Evolution WebQuest found on the Website. There are seven questions on the WebQuest. Each must be answered with at least one paragraph which meets the standards explained in the WebQuest template. (Answer each question in a complete paragraph of at least 5 sentences. To count as a sentence, there must be at least 8 words in the sentence of at least 5 letters. Your paragraph may be longer and you may use more than one paragraph to answer the question. Delete this instruction paragraph when you print your final copy.) The template for this WebQuest is found on the "O" Drive.
Task 2
Background Information: You are a researcher assigned to a company that builds large resort hotels and vacation complexes in exotic places. One of your company’s projects is being held up by the findings of a large number of fossils of extinct animals that inhabited the earth a long time ago. The government wants your company to stop all building but this will cost your company several million dollars a day which it cannot afford. Your contractors and subcontractors, as well as your financial supporters (the banks that have loaned you the money for the project), must be paid and no one is doing any work. The president has asked for a short paper explaining how these fossils can be that valuable and what the company can do to get back to work on the project. The president does not believe in this evolution theory and asked for a paper explaining this to him. (Use your WebQuest as the research to prepare your essay.)
You are a researcher assigned to a company that builds large resort hotels and vacation complexes in exotic places. One of your company’s projects is being held up by the findings of a large number of fossils of extinct animals that inhabited the earth a long time ago. The government wants your company to stop all building but this will cost your company several million dollars a day which it cannot afford. Your contractors and subcontractors, as well as your financial supporters (the banks that have loaned you the money for the project), must be paid and no one is doing any work. The president has asked for a short paper explaining how these fossils can be that valuable and what the company can do to get back to work on the project. The president does not believe in this evolution theory and asked for a paper explaining this to him. (Use your WebQuest as the research to prepare your essay.)
Explain to the president how the fossils tell a story and how evolution has played an important role in nature.
You are one of several researchers who are trying to be the first to explain this problem to the president. The first one with the best explanation will receive a large bonus. You are writing to the president and his immediate staff. You are trying to be the first with the most accurate information and simple answer to reach the president. Your paper and others will be screened by the president’s chief advisors.
You must prepare an essay of at least five paragraphs – more, but not much more, would probably be more effective – explaining the way scientists use fossils and how these are used to explain evolution. The president does not want garbage. He also does not like excess information. He is very busy so don't waste his time. A successful paper would be one that explains to the president and his staff what these fossils show and why they are important. A suggestion of what the company should do to minimize its losses would be helpful as well.
Links
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/darwin/index.html
http://evolution.berkeley.edu/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolution
http://www.evolutionhappens.net/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/darwin/
http://www.talkorigins.org/origins/faqs-evolution.html