Evolution Unit and Cladograms for Special Education

This unit on Evolution contains almost 300 pages plus 70+ google slides of material specifically designed for students with special learning needs, especially autism.

This unit addresses the main characteristics of evolution and how plants and animals adapt including a BONUS unit on cladograms presented in a simplified but rigorous way for students with diverse learning needs to make meaningful and authentic connections to the material.

There are many opportunities for students to engage in repeated information on the importance of evolution and how plants and animals adapt.

In addition, many of the activities and assessments include more than one version, suggestions for differentiation, and options for presentation.

✩✩✩ This unit includes digital versions of the activities. There are 76 google slides and a movie version of the book.

See the preview for a more detailed look at the contents.

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Theory of Evolution Unit Includes:

⭐ This unit comes in 2 complete files. One is in color and one is in black and white.

In the zipped folder you will find:

• 16 days of lesson plans
• Evolution and Cladograms activities in color
• Evolution and Cladograms activities in black and white
• Voice-recorded PowerPoint show
• Theory of Evolution book (PowerPoint) to use with activities
• Cladograms book (PowerPoint) to use with activities
• Links and directions to digital activities

Theory of Evolution Activities:

• Vocabulary board
• 20 Vocabulary cards and cut/paste activities (includes digital version)
• 2 Circle maps (includes digital version)
• 3 Sorting activities (includes digital version)
• Identify how animals adapt (3 practice worksheets) (includes digital version)
• 3 writing prompts (includes digital version)
• 3 Cut and paste close worksheets (includes digital version)
• 2 Sudoku puzzles (includes digital version)
• Word search
• Assessments (3 versions) (includes digital version)

BONUS UNIT: Cladograms

• Small group practice reading cladograms
• Identify common ancestors (includes digital version)
• Identify common traits (includes digital version)
• Close worksheet (includes digital version)

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Much of what I have learned about curriculum development is incorporated in these units. For example, do not be afraid of repetition. It is critical that students with significant disabilities get to experience material over several days to be able to fully assimilate what is being taught. Also, adding visual supports to your printables and class activities helps students be able to pay more attention to the content you are presenting rather than the mechanics of what is expected. Finally, ask questions. Good questions!! Regardless of the material, if we can ask students good questions it will push them to think more deeply than before.