This lesson can be used to introduce evolution and establish what your students already understand (or misunderstand) about evolutionary theory. Statements can be printed and cut into slips and students work in small groups to categorize each statement as either Fact, Fiction, or Opinion. The included answer key has quick explanations as well as links to authoritative sources to explain the positions, sources from Berkeley’ Understanding Evolution and New Scientist.
Evolution misconceptions are fairly common for beginning biology students. For example, many think that evolution leads to greater complexity, or that natural selection is the only process that results in evolution. What your students know depends greatly on how much was covered (or not covered) in previous classes.
The exercise also serves as a starting point for discussions about what facts, models, and theories are within the context of science.
A google doc link is included for editing or adding new statements.
HS-LS4-1 Communicate scientific information that common ancestry and biological evolution are supported by multiple lines of empirical evidence
Joel
This is disingenuous. Telling students that evolution is compatible with religion is meaningless unless you consider the specific religious beliefs of students. And many of those students’ beliefs will certainly involve a rejection of molecules-to-man evolution. So this amounts to telling the students what their religious beliefs ought to be, which is really insulting. I mean, it’s almost like you’re gas-lighting them. You might as well just come out and say what it is you’re trying to say: “dump your creationism.”
Admin
Many faiths find evolution to be compatible with divine creation. This article regarding the Catholic Church’s position may be helpful for understanding those viewpoints. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/10/28/pope-francis-evolution-big-bang/18053509/ The activity is simply designed to address the most common misconceptions about evolution.