Lesson 2 – Precambrian/Cambrian, Early Life, Arthropods. Evolution, Darwin
Examine the earth’s most early forms of life in the Precambrian and Cambrian periods. Spend some time on the Cambrian explosion and the Burgess Shale creatures. Introduce evolution. We may take a few weeks to cover this, as evolution is so important and the basis of modern biology. Our first scientist, Charles Darwin will be covered, his story as well as the Galapagos Islands.
Main Readings
- Usborne Internet Linked Encyclopedia of World History (UILE) – pp 18-19 (evolution, animal kingdom), pp 24-27 (beginning of life, Precambrian/Cambrian life)
Book Go-alongs
Early Life (some also cover evolution)
- First Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Life, by Sam Taplin, 2004 (Covers early life as well as dinosaurs)
- I Wonder Why Fish Grew Legs and other questions about prehistoric life, by Jackie Gaff, 2004 (covers many topics: how the earth began, evolution, early animals, dinosaurs, extinction, early humans, ice age…)
- From Lava to Life: The Universe Tells Our Earth’s Story, by Jennifer Morgan, 2003 (second book of above series, read up to page 29, then it talks about dinosaurs, which we’ll cover later)
- The Dawn of Life (A Cartoon History of the Earth), by Jacqui Bailey, 2001
- Creature Yesterday and Today, by Karen Patkau, 2008
- Raptors, Fossils, Fins and Fangs: A Prehistoric Creature Feature , by Ray Troll, 2004 (nice intro to prehistoric creatures now and in upcoming lessons)
Evolution
- Life on Earth: The Story of Evolution, by Steve Jenkins, 2002
- Our Family Tree: An Evolution Story, by Lisa Westberg Peters, 2003
- The Tree Of Life: The Wonders of Evolution, by Ellen Jackson, 2004
- Charles Darwin, by Alan Gibbons, 2008
- What Mr. Darwin Saw, by Mick Manning, 2009
- We’re Sailing to Galapagos, by Laurie Krebs, 2007 (simplistic but fun colorful book, older children may like the facts in the back)
- Life Story, by Eric Maddern, 2003
- Stones & Bones, by Char Matejovsky, 2007
- We covered only books suitable for ages 4-8, head to Charlies Playhouse Bibliography to see more great evolution books!
DVDs
- Galapagos: The Islands That Changed the World (2007)
- Galapagos: IMAX (1999) (if you only get one Galapagos DVD, I suggest the first one)
- Magic School Bus “Goes Cellular” (Cells)
- Magic School Bus “All Dried Up” (Adaptations, how animals evolve to survive)
- Walking With Monsters and the rest of the Walking With series – shows how life evolved. This DVD is an absolute favorite in our household, my daughter still watches it a few times a year (edited March 2011)
Sample Internet Links
- Follow an evolution timeline
- What is an arthropod? (fun interactive site)
- Meet the Cambrian critters
- Understanding Evolution (for the teachers)
Activities
- Charlie’s Playhouse Giant Timeline/Ancient Creature Cards (Vendian and Cambrian periods)
- Make Cambrian Creature sculptures
- Galapagos Coloring Book
- Galapagos Toob – roleplay with the animals
PDF 
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