TeachersFirst's Evolution - Science Resources
Uncover resources related to evolution. Read the descriptions to find out whether a site sounds right for what you want to know. We have included a mix of interactives, lesson ideas, content, and more. Some sites may be more challenging reading, while others may offer solid basic information. Be sure to try several sources. Introduce your class to Darwin.
Explore our entire list of tagged resources related to evolution.
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iBiology - Ron Vale
Grades
8 to 12
tag(s): cells (82), diseases (69), ecology (96), evolution (86), genetics (67), plants (137), STEM (226)
In the Classroom
Bookmark this site to use with classroom lessons. Share a link to selected videos for students to view on your class website or blog (be sure to preview videos before sharing to ensure content is appropriate for your age-level students). Use a tool like playposit, reviewed here, to engage students by making interactive content with these videos. Add questions for students to discuss, gather student comments, and include polls to receive immediate feedback to guide your lessons. As an alternative to your traditional assessment, ask students to create an explainer video using FlexClip, reviewed here to explain and demonstrate biology content learned throughout your unit.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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National Geographic 101 - National Geographic
Grades
6 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): animals (265), chemicals (39), climate (78), climate change (77), dinosaurs (37), diseases (69), drugs and alcohol (26), energy (127), evolution (86), genetics (67), hiv/aids (19), moon (66), planets (111), plants (137), pollution (47), religions (64), romans (32), solar energy (33), solar system (95), space (204), STEM (226), sun (59), weather (156)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the share feature included with each video to share a link or embed videos on your class website or student computers. These videos provide a wonderful opportunity for students to explore a variety of science topics that aren't always included in the science curriculum. As students find a topic of interest on the site, ask them to research additional information, and then use Canva, reviewed here, to modify their learning and create posters or infographics sharing their findings with their peers. Include student-created posters or infographics as part of an overall presentation using a portfolio-building site like About.me, reviewed here. Use About.me for students to create a portfolio as their future self as a scientist sharing their research that includes posters, written work, cited research, and more.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Nova Labs - PBS
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): cells (82), critical thinking (104), energy (127), evolution (86), internet safety (110), Research (61), solar energy (33), sun (59), weather (156)
In the Classroom
Nova Labs provides many opportunities for engaging students in authentic learning situations. Consider using this site as an introduction to any of the included topics. For example, begin your energy unit by assigning the energy lab as homework or as a flipped learning activity. Watch the introductory video together, then allow students to explore the site on their own. Use Playposit, reviewed here, extend technology use by adding questions and student responses to videos to encourage critical thinking skills. Have students share their learning after participating in the lab by annotating images using ThingLink, reviewed here. Thinglink presents a variety of levels for technology use depending on teacher requirements for the project, or even student ability; it allows for adding narration, videos, text, and links to help explain the project. Ask tech-savvy students to create their own learning games with Scratch, reviewed here, using information learned from their research.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Check123 - Yuval Katz and Yuval Shani
Grades
K to 12tag(s): animals (265), art history (75), artists (72), cells (82), chemicals (39), civil war (127), cold war (24), diseases (69), drugs and alcohol (26), earth (173), evolution (86), explorers (60), human body (92), industrial revolution (21), internet safety (110), movies (55), oceans (130), planets (111), plants (137), space (204), war of 1812 (12), world war 1 (62), world war 2 (136)
In the Classroom
Bookmark Check123 on your classroom computers for access throughout the year. Pull up short videos on any topic to introduce or reinforce content. Be sure to share a link to this site on your class webpage. Have students use Check123 to find videos on any topic, plants or evolution for example, then share the different videos to learn together. Have students make a multimedia presentation using Genial.ly, reviewed here, and include videos found on this site to include in the presentation.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Teach.Genetics - Genetic Science Learning Center at the University of Utah
Grades
9 to 12tag(s): body systems (41), evolution (86), genealogy (7), genetics (67), heart (26), human body (92)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the many free educational materials for use in your science classroom. Use materials from this site as an anticipatory set or "activator" to introduce a unit or lesson on a projector or interactive whiteboard. Share topics from Teach.Genetics with students for use with science fair projects. Have students create a multimedia presentation using Presentious, reviewed here. Challenge students to find a photo (legally permitted to be reproduced), and then narrate the photo as if it is a news report. Use a tool such as bubbl.us, reviewed here, to create and share the concept maps of information included with activities.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The 25 Biggest Turning Points in Earth's History - BBC Earth
Grades
7 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): cells (82), dinosaurs (37), earth (173), evolution (86), mammals (23), plants (137)
In the Classroom
Ask students to consider the question of the 25 biggest turning points in Earth's history before viewing this site together, and then compare responses. Have students brainstorm or collect ideas on a collaborative bulletin board like Scrumblr, reviewed here, (quick start- no membership required!). Use this site as inspiration for students to create their own 25 (or whatever) choices for the biggest turning points in their life, your state, their country, a country they are studying, or any subject they are studying. Ask students to present their own 25 to their peers using an interactive poster like Adope Spark, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Evolution - WGBH/NOVA Science Unit and Clear Blue Sky Productions
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): animals (265), evolution (86), fossils (37), geologic time (9), plants (137)
In the Classroom
Provide this link on your class page for students to access. Provide time in class for students to view specific links as groups and report their findings in a class discussion. Be sure to check out the case studies found in the For Teachers section for great advice on teaching evolution to students and overcoming misconceptions and misunderstandings. Use the activities in the downloadable Teacher's Guide. Rather than debate evolution, encourage students to identify the misconceptions of evolution and identify the scientific evidence against these misconceptions. To help students, discuss the reasons why understanding evolution is important.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Untamed Science - Rob Nelson
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): amphibians (17), animals (265), biomes (113), cells (82), ecology (96), evolution (86), fish (17), genetics (67), mammals (23), planets (111), reptiles (10), video (242)
In the Classroom
Use videos from this site as an anticipatory set or "activator" to introduce a unit or lesson on a projector or interactive whiteboard. Create a link to videos (or use the embed code from the YouTube page) on your class website or blog for students to view at home. Challenge cooperative learning groups to create their own science videos modeled after these and share them on a site such as TeacherTube reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Top Documentary Films - topdocumentaryfilms.com
Grades
7 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): advanced placement (24), animals (265), artists (72), biographies (88), drugs and alcohol (26), environment (218), evolution (86), hiv/aids (19), humor (15), media literacy (87), mental health (28), money (121), politics (101), psychology (65), religions (64), sports (77), vietnam (31)
In the Classroom
Use this site to find videos in a wide range of topics to share on your interactive whiteboard, on a projector, or as a link on your class web page. Use videos to demonstrate different points of view. Then use an online tool such as Interactive Two Circle Venn Diagram, reviewed here. to compare and contrast information. Have students create a word cloud of the important terms they learn from any film using a tool such as WordItOut, reviewed here. Want to engage students WHILE they watch a video? Why not set up a backchannel chat using GoSoapBox, reviewed here. Be sure to ask your class if there could have been any bias in the video you watch together. What film techniques influence our thinking?Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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A-Z Animals - Millie Bond
Grades
2 to 9This site includes advertising.
tag(s): animal homes (57), animals (265), biodiversity (24), evolution (86), habitats (78)
In the Classroom
Be sure to include this site on your class web page for students to access both in and outside of class for further exploration during and after your animal or biodiversity unit. Explore information about the Animal of the Day. Create a link on classroom computers for students to explore on their own. Print animal pages for use in classroom reading centers or for Guided Reading instruction. This site is perfect for use with Special Education and ESL/ELL students in upper elementary and above-- if their listening vocabulary is strong enough. Provide headphones and allow them to listen to information from any page. Have cooperative learning groups use information from this site to create online books using a tool such as Bookemon, reviewed here. Have students create online posters individually or together as a class using a tool such as Web Poster Wizard, reviewed here, or PicLits, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Evogeneao - Evogeneao
Grades
3 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): animals (265), biodiversity (24), evolution (86), plants (137)
In the Classroom
Introduce the concept beginning with the Evolutionary Genealogy section. Just as we are so, "many times removed" from a distant relative, all life on Earth is related and can be measured. Find great lesson starters and resources for understanding and teaching evolution to students Don't miss the "For Teachers" section. Students can find their favorite animal in the Tree of Life and trace it backwards to find a common ancestor with humans.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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On-Line Biology Book - Michael J. Farabee, Ph.D
Grades
9 to 12tag(s): animals (265), atoms (41), bacteria (19), body systems (41), cells (82), evolution (86), genetics (67), human body (92), molecules (38), photosynthesis (21), plants (137)
In the Classroom
Include this site on your class web page for students and parents to access as a reference or use for enrichment. Use this site as inspiration and have cooperative learning groups create online books using a tool such as Bookemon, reviewed here. Are you flipping your classroom? Use this site along with other online resources as part of your at-home learning resources.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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One Zoom Tree of Life Explorer - One Zoom 2012
Grades
8 to 12tag(s): amphibians (17), biodiversity (24), birds (41), evolution (86), mammals (23)
In the Classroom
Use this site to view how organisms are related and identify the evolutionary relationships among the different animals and biodiversity. Use this site as a springboard to discussions in class. Share the videos and interactives on your projector or interactive whiteboard. Research information that explains and shows the evolutionary evidence that exists. Have students create their own simple infographic of a single species in relationship to its "relatives."Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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So What Does It Mean To Be Human? - Smithsonian Institute
Grades
9 to 12In the Classroom
View specific topics such as "Tools and Food" under "Human Characteristics." Read the material as it explains the science behind the time and use estimations. Challenge students to describe how scientists have derived at an explanation provided. Follow up with "Fossil Forensics: Interactive" under "Human Evolution Research" to see the specific portions scientists are talking about. Here, 3D pictures including microscopic views have details circled for better understanding. You may want to have this set up at a computer in your room as a "center," or have the url on your website, where students can make further investigations on their own.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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eSkeletons - University of Texas
Grades
9 to 12tag(s): dissection (7), evolution (86), human body (92)
In the Classroom
Introduce this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Then have students explore this site independently or in small groups. Use to discuss many topics including evolution. Determine relatedness by using the Taxonomic Tree as well as common bones and other features of the primates. Use as an introduction to anatomy or dissection. This is a great find for gifted students (logic or unusual topics, for example or a site where students can do more in-depth investigation related to a "standard" curriculum topic)! Have students complete a multimedia project related to one of the concepts discussed at this site. Rather than a traditional report, have students create magazine covers that mimic the real thing using the Magazine Cover Maker reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Your Inner Fish - University of Chicago
Grades
11 to 12tag(s): classification (21), evolution (86)
In the Classroom
Use to discuss classification of animals as classification schemes use DNA evidence, homology, and evolution. Provide different schemes of classification to groups to investigate. Allow students to report back to the class on what has been learned for discussion. Use this discussion to understand the basic similarities of many organisms. Follow with observation of preserved specimens or dissection to identify these characteristics. Have cooperative learning groups create a multimedia presentation to share their findings. Challenge students to narrate a picture using a tool such as Slidestory, reviewed here. This tool allows you to narrate the slides and images. Or have groups create an interactive online poster using Lucidpress, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Darwin - American Museum of Natural History
Grades
8 to 12In the Classroom
This resource provides an excellent introduction to Darwin's work for younger students. Create a simple Web hunt to guide them through the content. Older students can apply critical analysis to Darwin's findings and the manner in which his work is still influencing society and education two centuries after his birth.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Understanding Evolution - UC Paleontology Museum
Grades
1 to 12In the Classroom
There is SO much to explore on this site, but be sure to check out the collection of lesson plans for all grade levels.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Evolution of Flight in Birds - UC Berkeley
Grades
6 to 12In the Classroom
Introduce this activity with a projector or on an interactive whiteboard to show students how to navigate the site. Then, in your flipped or blended classroom (or at a computer center), have students explore on their own. Ask students to create blogs sharing their learning and understanding using Telegra.ph, reviewed here. With Telegra.ph you just click on an icon to upload images from your computer, add a YouTube or Vimeo, or Twitter links. This blog creator requires no registration. Take this a step further and allow pairs or small groups of students to explore Related Activities and share what they learned with their peers using an interactive poster like Adobe Creative Cloud Express for Education, reviewed here. Students can keep their work for future reference in a digital portfolio such as Seesaw, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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What Did T. rex Taste Like? - U.C. Berkeley
Grades
7 to 12In the Classroom
Use this activity as a learning center or station during a unit on cladistics or evolution. Save this site as a favorite on classroom computers and have students complete the activity in pairs or cooperative learning groups. This would be a great activity during a Biology class. As an extension, students can summarize what they learned in an flow chart or graphic organizer such as Holt Interactive Graphic Organizers, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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