Human Development

Title: Human Development

Author: Sarah White

Grade Level: 11 -12

Subject/Content: Social Studies (Western Civilization, World History and Anthropology)

Summary of Lesson: Students will create a display reflecting the development of hominids.

Focus Question: How have humans developed over time?

Databases(s): Student Resource Center

Procedures:

Steps/Activities by teacher:

1. Arrange for student access to Gale Student Resource Center database.
2. Assign students groups of 3 – 4 people (or allow them to choose).
3. Gather supplies to make displays (pieces of roll paper or poster board, magazines for cutting, scissors, glue, markers).

Steps/Activities by student(s):

1. Use the Student Resource Center database to research the species listed below:
   1. Australopithecus Afarensis
   2. Bosei
   3. Homo Habilis
   4. Homo Ergastor
   5. Homo Erectus
   6. Heidelberg Man
   7. Neanderthal
   8. Homo Sapien
2. For each specie the group should locate the following information:
1. Approximate year of emergence
2. Physical Features
3. Fossils discovered (place, time discovered, by who)
4. Lifestyle
3. As a group, create a display that depicts the development of the hominid species. The display should show all of the researched information. Students may view this as a detailed timeline and can get creative in their displays (perhaps arranged as a “hominid tree” or graph instead of a timeline).

Outcome: Students will understand the development of humans over time.

Related Activities: Students may research alternate theories to human evolution and write a position paper on the theory they believe to be the most credible.

Standard Date: July 18, 2006

Content Standard(s):

• Apply key concepts such as time, chronology, causality, change, conflict and complexity to explain, analyze and show connections among patterns of historical change and continuity.
• Identify and describe significant historical periods and patterns of change within and across cultures, such as the development of ancient cultures and civilizations, the rise of nation-states and social, economic and political revolutions.
• Systematically employ processes of critical historical inquiry to reconstruct and reinterpret the past, such as using a variety of sources and checking their credibility, validating and weighing evidence for claims and searching for causality.
• Apply concepts, methods and theories about the study of human growth and development, such as physical endowment, learning, motivation, behavior, perception and personality.

Performance Indicators:

• At Level 1, the student is able to:
  • Identify the various hominids species and describe their characteristics.
• At Level 2, the student is able to:
  • Describe how each hominid changed into the next and adapted to their environment.
• At Level 3, the student is able to:
  • Analyze the development of Homo sapiens, tracing all of the hominid species.

Computer Literacy and Usage Standards 9-12:

• The student will develop skills using a variety of computer resources to increase productivity, support creativity, conduct and evaluate research and improve communications.
• The student will use technology resources to improve problem solving and decision-making skills and apply these skills to real world situations.

ISTE NETS for Students

• Routinely and efficiently use online information resources to meet needs for collaboration, research, publication, communication and productivity.
• Select and apply technology tools for research, information analysis, problem solving and decision making in content learning.
• Collaborate with peers, experts, and others to contribute to a content-related knowledge base by using technology to compile, synthesize, produce and disseminate information, models and other creative works.

Information Power; Information Literacy Standards:

• Standard 1: The student who is information literate accesses information efficiently and effectively.
• Standard 2: The student who is information literate evaluates information critically and competently.
• Standard 3: The student who is information literate uses information accurately and creatively.