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1. Standards, bench marks and objectives
The
study of vertebrates will fall
under content standard of Biological Evolution. The presence of spinal
chord
(back bone) in these animals indicates that they might have had a
common
ancestor in the past million of years. The common ancestor is assumed
to have
had a ‘notochord’. The process of evolution is the main deriving factor
that
caused the variation that we see to day in the existing variety of
animals.
There are many fossil evidences and living structural and functional
homologous features that support this view. The unit will also include
the study
of
animal behavior that is one of the content standards for biology
teaching in
grade
9-12.
2. Bench marks
for Grade 9 Biology (Modern Biology, Teachers’ Guide, 2006)
- Understand the evolutionary origin of vertebrates.
(LSEvol
4)
- Describe the distinguishing characteristics
(behavior) of
different vertebrates. (LSBEH 1)
- Identify the interrelationships among the five
classes of
vertebrates in the ecosystem. (LSInter3)
- Appreciate and give value to the beauty of diversity
of
animals’ kingdom and their economic importance for the green industry
of a
given country.(LSBeh 4)
- Evaluate the form and function of the five classes of
vertebrates to their adaptation in the natural world (environment).
(UCP5)
3. Objectives
The
following objectives were prepared in line with the standards and
benchmarks
that were set for the biology students in Grade 9.
By the end of this unit students will be able to:
- Understand the body structure and
function of these organisms and particularly the importance of the
vertebral column in vertebrate evolution.. (UCP5)
- Know how to construct a
phylogenetic tree (cladogram) based on fragments of information given
to them. (LSEvol 4)
- Appreciate the aesthetic value and
economic advantage of vertebrates. (LSBeh 4)
- Develop the skill in dissection of
some of the vertebrates and envisage its application in the future
investigations. (LSBeh 4)??
- Work together on a project and
present organized results which also enables them understand the interdependence of animals for mutual survival.
(LSInter3)
- Use the information from fossil
observations and phylogenetic trees to visualize the ancestors of the
present vertebrates. (LSEvol 4)
- Compare and contrast the anatomical
structure of vertebrates and analyze their development. (LSBEH 1)
- Explain how the function of an
animal is dependent on the form and structure of its body (UCP5)
- Appreciate the behavior of these
organisms in comparison to the behavior of man. (LSBEH 1)
- Understand the correlation between
the body structure of organisms and their adaptability to different
habitats. (UCP5)
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