Links to Curriculum and Assessment of Learning

Key Concepts from the New Zealand Curriculum That Link to These Resources

Below are selected objectives from the curriculum levels 7 and 8 that link to these resources:

	Level 7	Levels 7 & 8	Level 8
Nature of Science		Understanding About Science: Understand that scientists have an obligation to connect their new ideas to current and historical scientific knowledge and to present their findings for peer review and debate. Communicating in Science: Use accepted science knowledge, vocabulary, symbols and conventions when evaluating accounts of the natural world and consider the wider implications of the methods of communication and/or representation employed.
Living World	Evolution: Understand that DNA and the environment interact in gene expression. Ecology and Evolution: Explain how the interaction between ecological factors and natural selection leads to genetic changes within populations.		Life Processes, Ecology and Evolution: Explore the evolutionary processes that have resulted in the diversity of life on Earth and appreciate the place and impact of humans within these processes.

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AS 91605 Biology 3.5: Demonstrate understanding of evolutionary processes leading to speciation
AS 91606 Biology 3.6: Demonstrate understanding of trends in human evolution

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Below are selected objectives that link to these resources. Please note, these are not a full list of the concepts on your course.

Define the term species and ways in which speciation occurs
Define gene and allele frequency, speciation, gene flow, genetic equilibrium
Identify sources of genetic variation and agents of change that lead to change in a gene pool
Define the terms genetic drift, founder effect and bottleneck effect
Explain the role of natural selection in speciation
Describe patterns of evolution: convergent, divergent (incl. adaptive radiation), co-evolution, and the speed of evolutionary change i.e. punctuated equilibrium, gradualism

Define the hominin lineage and describe the characteristics of major species in that lineage
Describe trends in biological evolution of the hominins with respect to:
Skeletal changes linked to bipedalism
Changes in skull and endocranial features
Changes in manipulative ability of the hand
Describe trends in cultural evolution of the hominins with respect to use of tools, fire, shelter, clothing, abstract thought (communication, language, art), food-gathering, and domestication of plants and animals
Describe patterns of dispersal of hominins (multiregional and replacement hypotheses) and the evidence supporting these hypotheses
Describe recent developments in interpretations on the origins and trends of human evolution based on current scientific evidence which is widely accepted and presented in peer-reviewed scientific journals

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