Biological Evolution: Unity & Diversity

8th - MS-LS4-2
Proficiency Scale Descriptors Evidence of Meeting the Standard
4-Exceeds Analyze the scientific data on age of fossils or other objects and provide evidence of Student developed evidence
Standard validity.
3.5 Meets Level 3 and shows some evidence of Level 4
3-Meets Standard Apply scientific ideas to construct an explanation for the anatomical similarities and Connect similarities and differences of select modern and
(Consistent differences among modern organisms and between modern and fossil organisms to infer fossilized organisms and provide evidence for behavior.
Evidence, evolutionary relationships.
Independent)
2.5 Meets Level 2 and shows some evidence of Level 3
2-Approaching Students recognize or recall specific vocabulary such as: 1. Identify patterns among organisms from a
Standard cladogram.
Content:fossil, relative dating, absolute dating, fossil record, rock strata,
2. Distinguish types of fossils and describe the process
(Independent) cladogram, embryo, evolution, vestigial structure of fossilization.
Academic: phenomena, construct, design, theory, pattern, relationship, system, 3. Identify and describe vestigial structures.
claim, evidence, reason 4. Distinguish similarities and differences between
embryos of organisms
Students demonstrate they have the ability to: 5. Compare and contrast relative and absolute dating.

1. Identify and describe similarities and differences in anatomical patterns in

modern, living organisms.
2. Identify and describe similarities and differences in anatomical patterns in
fossilized organisms.
3. Identify and describe similarities and differences between modern and fossilized
organisms.
4. Explain relationships between modern and fossilized organisms.

1-Not at Standard With help, partial success at score 2.0 content and score 3.0 content.
0-No Evidence With help, no success and/or no evidence of success.