OpenSciEd Unit 8.6 · Lesson 14 · 14.A
Look for: In the early phases of development, there are…
From Teacher Edition
Facilitation guidance from the lesson plan — what to notice in student thinking and how to respond while teaching.
Building towards
14.A.2 Analyze and interpret sketches of different species at different stages of embryological development to identify similarities and differences (patterns) in physical structures not evident in the fully formed anatomy.
What to look / listen for
What to look and listen for
Listen for students to say something like the following:
- In the early phases of development, there are many similarities in the structures of each of the organisms.
- It is difficult to tell the organisms apart early in development, but by later in development their physical structures begin to look more different.
- All the organisms early in development have a tail-like structure, an eye, an earhole or ear, and nubs where arms, fins, or legs will eventually develop.
What to do
If students struggle making comparisons between the different structures found in the embryo sketches, encourage them to think of an external structure that they know all the animals have, such as eyes. Then encourage them to look for evidence of this structure in the different sketches and color code it. Then prompt them to look for other common structures and color code if it is found in all or some of the embryo sketches.