Discussed changes that occurred between the Ordovician period and the Silurian in terms of climate, habitat variability, the concept of the niche and the competitive exclusion principle. We discussed what animals survived the mass extinction of the Ordovician and radiated in the Silurian. Next we covered similar concepts regarding the Devonian period (AKA the age of fishes). We investigated the continuing rise of cartilaginous fishes and the rise of bony fishes. Explored how the bony fish diversified and what species were left at the end of the Devonian.

What was different about the Ordovician period than the Cambrian period?
Discuss fauna present in each period and discuss biological diversiyy and ecological complexity. Diagram food webs for both time periods.
What caused the extintion at the end of the Ordovican and what did it mean for life on Earth?

Teach mnemonic for geologic periods and epochs.
Discuss radial and bilateral symmetry and the increase in cephalization.
Add some geologic time periods with dates, pictures, and organisms present to time line.

Explain the relationships between the three domains: Archaea, Bacteria, Eukarya
Introduce the Protist kingdom
Describe ecology, modes of nutrition, movement
Watch part of PBS Nature Australia the First Four Billion Years and discuss the video in terms of recent knowledge

What is a prokaryote?
Relate the theory of endosymbiosis to the possibility of an ancient prokaryote.
Differences between the two domains of prokaryotes: Bacteria and Archaea
What are the modes of nutrition, habitat, movement, reproduction, and human uses.

Review theories and experiments on the origin of life on earth.
Introduce the endosymbiotical theory of life. Explain how the formation of amino acids could have lead to the development of life.
Introduce prokaryote and eukaryote cells abd examine difference in cellular structures with pictures.
Add information to time line.
Introduce classification schemes and review Darwin and Linneaus.

Describe primitive Earth in terms of chemical composition and land forms.
Discuss evidence.
Examine the Urey and Miller experiment testing for how life could have occurred without previous life.
Contrast to ideas of spontaneous generation and the work of Louis Pasteur.
Demonstrate how RNA could have been the first molecule of heredity and why?
Dicuss characteristics of life and the first organisms. Discuss how as the environment changed organisms evolved or went extinct.
Introduce Archeae and extremophiles.

First, address origin and function of mitochondria, and the usefulness of studying mitochondrial DNA. Discuss "mitochondrial Eve," compare to study of Y chromosome and "chromosomal Adam."
Then identify scientific meaning of "organic" and "inorganic" molecules & abiogenesis. Watch "Greatest Discoveries: urea synthesis" video clip and discuss significance. Watch beginning of "Origins of Life."

Review Evolution questions from homework. Address sexual selection. Review heredity terminology. Watch youtube video on heredity and Mendelian traits. Do several punnet squares, identify dominant and recessive alleles, heterozygous vs homozygous genotypes, and resulting phenotypes. Discuss linked traits. Take heredity terminology quiz.

Student absent