1.  Introduction

• This lesson will be "The Annual Conference on North America Monkeys."  Each student group will be presenters at the conference and will present their findings to the audience (the rest of the class.).
  

2. Focus and Review

• The lesson will begin with a short teacher-led Q&A about adaptation and natural selection.
  

3. Objectives

• Science Goals 1.01, 1.05, 1.08:
• 1.01 Identify and create questions and hypotheses that can be answered through scientific investigations. 
• 1.05 Analyze evidence to explain observations and make inferences and predictions
• 1.08 Use oral and written language to communicate findings, defend conclusions of scientific investigations, and describe strengths and weaknesses of claims, arguments, and/or data
• Science Goals 5.02:
• 5.02 Correlate evolutionary theories and processes
• Computer 3.07:
• 3.07 Plan, design, and develop a multimedia product using data (e.g., graphs, charts, database reports) to present content information.

• Computer Access Option for this lesson: 3. The $2,900 solution: 1 computer with projection system

4. Teacher Input

• The teacher will introduce the speakers as she is the organizer of the conference.  She will remind the audience (the class) that there will be two presenters arguing for the existence of the monkey and two arguring against.
  

5.Group Presentations

• Each group will their findings and theories.  They will discuss information about the local environment including food, shelter, and other resources.  They will show how their evidence either supports or refutes the existance of the monkey. Their theories must tie in the concept of adaptation.
  

6. Independent Practice

• Once all the group shave presented, each student will write a journal reflection on whether or not they personally think it is possible.  Their reflection must include conditions that would be necessary for it to be true and in what ways a monkey would have to adapt in order to live in the city of Asheville. 
  

7. Closure

• As a class, the students will come to a consensus about the monkey "sighting."  They will collaboratively describe their process of research and  discuss the how and why of their collective theory.  They will post this to the class blog.