EVOLUTION OF CARTOON FOSSILS

Evolution results from mutations, variations in populations, isolation of gene pools, and natural selection by environmental factors. Through time, life has evolved from a few simple forms to the present vast array of organisms on Earth.
When scientists find a fossil, they try to identify where the fossil belongs in the evolutionary sequence. In this activity, you will have the opportunity to determine a probable sequence of evolution of cartoon fossil organisms.

MATERIALS

• scissors
• newsprint or large sheet of paper
• cartoon diagrams
• pencil or pen

A. Planning Your Investigation

You have been given a sheet showing many cartoon fossils. Cut them out carefully. Examine the diagrams and prepare a list of shared characteristics that you think are important variables that could be used to demonstrate the change in traits over time. Include a hypothesis describing the trend in the evolution of traits.

B. Conducting Your Investigation

Organize your fossils on the paper according to your hypothesis about the trend in the evolution of traits. Make sure you use arrows to show the sequence in the evolution of this cartoon species.

C. Communicating Your Results

Summarize (write a chunk) your reasoning about the evolution of your cartoon fossils. Describe the environmental factors that could have contributed to the evolutionary process of the species.