Procedure Part A: Putting Darwin on the Map |
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Your students can print the excerpts (pdf) and map (pdf). Or you can distribute copies to the class. |
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You may wish to review longitude and latitude with your students before they begin the mapping activity. |
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You may wish to provide magazines with nature photography in case students would prefer cutting and pasting to drawing. |
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As an alternate version of this activity, have the students create a travel log or brochure of Darwin's voyage based on the letters and journal entries provided. Be sure to emphasize the important observations that are included in each document. |
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Part B: Observations Lead to a Theory |
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Ask students to list Darwin's observations and describe how each one might have helped him formulate his theory of natural selection. |
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Have students draw a concept map to show how these ideas relate. You may want to save these maps to discuss after students learn more about evolution, particularly natural selection. |
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