In 1998 , paleoanthropologist Lee Berger team up with National Geographic to create a web log about his team ’s search for manhood ’s line of descent in Africa . The site ( or , at least , parts of it ) is still live .
NatGeo called its speculation “ National Geographic Outpost , ” and line it as “ an cyberspace bridge between scientists and explorers in the line of business and curious idea in household and classrooms around the world . We invite our audience to be active participants — through query and suggestion — rather than peaceful observer . ”
Most of Berger ’s pageboy ’s linkup lead to 404s , but the site ’s theoretical account is still bear . If you ’re into net history , or curious about some of the earlier forays into science blogging , it ’s definitely worth a quick look . Be sure to get through through , past the introduction page , to“Enter Outpost . ”
Wrote Berger , at the time :
I pay for you to conjoin my colleagues , my teams , and me in the hunting for human origins through due east – mails , dispatches , special reports , picture , and more .
My teams and I are in Botswana seek for fossil that could be keys to humankind ’s past . Along the way I hope to give you a perspective on human evolution , one going back almost four million age and sweeping right up to the source of our species .
Here ’s an early lesson plan , plan for kids between 5 and 9 years old :
institution to organic evolution
put in your students to the construct of evolution with a simple simulation , using animate being that scholar can make from construction paper . You will need approximately six red birds that can fly , approximately six red boo that ca n’t fly , approximately six green birds that can vaporize , a fox , and an eagle . Designate a few tall schoolroom prop to serve as green “ trees . ” Explain that if the fauna live in a forest , the birds that can fly can escape into the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , while the slyboots will corrode the others . The eagle can eat any bird because it can go into the trees or onto the timberland flooring . Let the students dissemble this out with their animals .
Eventually only the flying birds will be leave to reproduce , and their offspring will likely be flying birdie too . There can be diminished variations in offspring , however , so possibly a few of these crimson birds will have green babe birds that can hide in the trees . The bird of Jove will then use up the red Bronx cheer but omit the dark-green Bronx cheer . Eventually , most shuttlecock will be green instead of red . Explain that in a similar path , young types of fauna population — even mass — can develop over foresightful catamenia of time . Show students impression of some other hominids , including Australopithecus africanus , and ask what factors allow these species to acquire into Homo sapiens . ( You ’ll find appropriate mental picture in the February 1997 and August 1998 issues of NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC . )
Classifying Species
Have scholar expect at pictures of chimpanzee and gorillas at the Electronic Zoo ( http://netvet.wustl.edu/primates.htm ) and renderings of Australopithecus africanus and Australopithecus afarensis in the August 1998 issue of NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC . postulate students to compare these other mintage with mankind . What can multitude do that the others ca n’t ? What can the others do that people ca n’t ? How are we like ; how are we unlike ?
Now compare humans to another type of mammal , such as a dog , cat , or horse . How are we alike to and unlike from this animal ? What about a fowl , reptilian , or insect ?
Give each bookman an index card bearing the name of an animal . ( If meter permits , students might drag their animals on the card . ) Have a variety of louse , birds , reptilian , nonprimate mammal , nonhuman primates , and human beings .
Gather the class around a large piece of poster board , a carpeting , or a table . call for student to place their power batting order in an order that play the similarities between animals . The most “ archaic ” beast ( worm ) might be at the top , follow by specie that have increasingly more in coarse with citizenry . Let students discuss where animals should be placed . excuse to the class that certain scientists have a similar job and must seek to cypher out the similarities and differences between all type of animals , including animals that have been extinct for a long time . In that sheath , they have to classify animals establish on fossils , which is much more hard .
indite Quizzes About other Humans
Have students interpret about former man at The Life and Times of Early Man ( http://members.aol.com/Donnpages/Earl … ) and write quizzes asking other students about this subject . Have them exchange quiz and go back to the website for resolution .
Here ’s another deterrent example planfor grade 5–8 , and anotherfor grades 9–12 .
H / tLee Berger
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