Replica Hominid & Ape Skull Comparison Set

Use of the Replica Hominid & Ape Comparison Set in an NGSS Biology High School class

Students was able to handle and measure the different skulls to collect data to be used to construct a cladogram hypothesizing the evolutionary relationships between the different species. This provided a visual, kinesthetic, and mathematical delivery of the content. From the students perspective, "Is this real? What would be evidence for walking on two legs? Why did the jaws change?" I limited the initial work to 5 skulls, allowing students to explore and develop explanations of the species relatedness. By adding two additional skulls later, I was able to extend the Explain and Elaborate stage into an authentic anthropological Evaluate. Fitting the two additional species into their cladogram was done collaboratively, and their discourse was astounding. I've used a library set from UCSF for several years. I recall one of my English Learners class sitting around after school having a deep, scientific discussion of the skulls and their relatedness. Their written argumentative analysis was individual, and based on the Claim-Evidence-Reasoning report format adopted by our school district.