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Origins of Life

Driving Question: How did life on Earth begin and change?

Journey to the depths of Earth’s early oceans to investigate the origins of life. Then, explore how life adapted and changed as life on Earth evolved.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Describe the origins of life on Earth and how life changed over time.
  2. Define the term biosphere.
  3. Evaluate how geography and climate have impacted life on Earth.

Vocab Terms:

  • biome
  • biosphere
  • DNA
  • ecosystem
  • homeostasis
  • metabolism
  • reproduction
STEP 1

Opener: Origins of Life

Teaching Tools

To teach this lesson step, refer to page 3 of the Lesson 3.2 Teaching Guide Locked .

Make sure to activate student’s prior knowledge as you start this lesson. Check out the our Openers and Closers Guide for more information.

STEP 2

Life Begins

Teaching Tools

To teach this lesson step, refer to page 3 of the Lesson 3.2 Teaching Guide Locked .

Check out our Activities Guide to learn more about why these are so important to our course!

There are a few theories about how life on Earth began. The slideshow and activity coming up next walk you through the most commonly accepted theory.

STEP 3

How Did Life on Earth Change?

Teaching Tools

To teach this lesson step, refer to page 4 of the Lesson 3.2 Teaching Guide Locked .

Want to dive deeper into the mini-thresholds of life? Check out this community conversation External link for extension ideas and samples of student work.

For hundreds of thousands of years, life on Earth was very simple. But, as you’ve seen a bunch in this course already, complexity changes everything. Let’s watch how it happened, and then review the predictions you made.

Mini-Thresholds of Life External link

Life on Earth has changed a lot since it first began. Take a journey through time with David Christian to explore the mini-thresholds of life.

Key Ideas

As this video progresses, key ideas will be introduced to invoke discussion.
STEP 4

The Biosphere

Teaching Tools

To teach this lesson step, refer to page 5 of the Lesson 3.2 Teaching Guide Locked .

Check out the OER Project Reading Overview for advice on how to use infographics with your students.

The biosphere is Earth’s “comfort zone.” It’s the rich, fragile environment where most living organisms exist. Use this article and activity to learn more about how the biosphere protects us from extremes that can be dangerous for life.

STEP 5

Geography and the Biosphere

Teaching Tools

To teach this lesson step, refer to page 6 of the Lesson 3.2 Teaching Guide Locked .

Check out the OER Project Data Literacy Guide for using charts and graphs in the classroom.

Do you think you could live in a place that gets a lot of rain? What about one that’s always cold? Test your map-reading skills to determine how climate impacts Earth.

STEP 6

Closer: Origins of Life

Teaching Tools

To teach this lesson step, refer to page 8 of the Lesson 3.2 Teaching Guide Locked .

You’ve learned about the beginning of life on Earth and how life changed over time. Surely something that epic deserves a poem? Try your hand at an Ode to Life Itself!

Extension Materials
Checkmark Alert Banner

To learn more about how we know about the mysteries and diversity of life on Earth, check out this graphic biography and this clip from the Unknowns podcast.

...

The Collector

Teaching Tools

To teach this lesson step, refer to page 9 of the Lesson 3.2 Teaching Guide Locked .

Late in her life, Ynés Mexía became the first Mexican American female botanist. Despite male colleagues’ attempts to prevent her, she introduced hundreds of new species to science during her travels.

...

Mysteries of the Origins of Life

There is still so much that we don’t know about the origins of life on Earth.

“Unknowns” Podcast Episode 2 External link

Life on Earth may have been created multiple times before finally getting it right.

Key Ideas

As this video progresses, key ideas will be introduced to invoke discussion.