Comparative Anatomy Field Trip Lesson Plan

In this lesson plan, students will use observations from a field trip to cultural institutions such as a zoo, aquarium or science museum to build their own argument for evolution utilizing comparative anatomy skills. When students practice identifying comparative anatomy relationships, they are more likely to identify evidence of evolution on their own. Students will identify structure and function relationships with various organisms they observe. After developing these skills in the field, students will apply them to the evolution of whales, building the argument of whale evolution themselves. Following the 5E Instructional model, this lesson plan utilizes experiential learning through a field trip to a local zoo, aquarium or science museum. This lesson can be conducted as an introduction to the unit, or review of the concepts after.