OVERVIEW
Scattered discoveries of pre-human fossils during the earlier part of the twentieth century had caused controversy within the scientific community as well as the larger public over the issue of human origins and evolutionary theory. The sciences of archaeology and paleontology had already begun to establish themselves at the turn of the century, as scientists participated in studying such phenomena as the Egyptian tombs and Mayan palaces and extinct creatures such as Tyrannosaurus Rex, the plesiosaurs, and pteradactyls, and remained a source of public fascination as the number of investigators increased over the post World War II decades. During this same time, continuing research on the mechanisms of heredity and of cell structure would focus attention on how to control viruses and bacteria and result in the identification of DNA as the molecule that underlies reproduction. Answering questions about the origin of planetary life and the history of the Earth's organisms began taking shape more fully with greater understanding of the ways in which physics, chemistry, and biology intersected with gaining knowledge of life in its varying dimensions across space and time, and within individuals and across the planet.

INTRODUCTION TO READING AND LEARNING MATERIALS
The reading in our core text provides content and analysis that you will use to build your knowledge base, and that will serve as the basis for your reflective essay that is due at the end of the week. The videos provide background information and context for the lesson and serve as source material for the essay and your pocket exhibit project The questions for your reflective essay are designed to prompt you to assess the material and determine what you find to be most significant and to explain why. The Pocket Exhibit Project allowed you to use historical skills to interpret primary source materials, and to create an online site to communicate your research findings.

LIST OF READINGS AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES

Reading Assignments:

Complete your reading of Ede & Cormack, Chapters 11-13 [these are the basis for Essay #4 due on Friday July 3rd]

View these background videos:

"Seven Million Years of Human Evolution" / American Museum of Natural History [7 min]
Crash Course Big History #6: "Human Evolution" [16 min]
"Dawn of Humanity" [PBS, 2015 / 2 hours] At Alexander Street
What is the Secret of Life? (BBC, 2010 / 50 min] at Alexander Street
“Emerging Viruses” Horizon, Season 27, episode 20 [50 min]

Explore these web exhibit sites:

"Introduction to Human Evolution"
The History of DNA [timeline]

web articles:

Assignments:

Post your Response Comments on the Chapters 11-13 Connection Box discussion by 11:59 p.m.