Field Trips, Student Activities

Who Owns These Bones?

Grade Level:
Middle School: Sixth Grade through Eighth Grade
Subject:
Science
State Standards:
MS-LS4-2: Apply scientific ideas to construct an explanation for the anatomical similarities and differences among modern organisms and between modern and fossil organisms to infer evolutionary relationships.

Essential question: What is the relationship between form and function in nature?
Big idea: Biological forms evolve through the process of natural selection upon traits that provide functional advantages. That is, adaptations in form arise from functional performance. Function does not emerge from form (which would be consistent with intelligent design versus evolution due to natural selection).
Objective: By making detailed observations of an animal’s skull (form), we can make inferences about its way of life (function).
Prior knowledge needed:To understand the main concepts explored in this lesson, it is helpful for students to know that

  • natural selection is the process in which individuals within a population experience differential survival and reproductive success as a result of natural variation in heritable traits.
  • evolution is a phenomenon in which populations change over time as a result of natural selection acting upon populations.
Prior skills needed:To successfully complete this lesson, students should be able to
  • understand vocabulary in context by consulting a topical glossary.
  • use adjectives to describe their observations.

Last updated: August 1, 2025