Middle School Grade
Project
1 week
Effective Communication
1-pager
Design
Design
Students will design a systematic, evidence-based methodology to investigate how environmental changes influenced a specific adaptation in their chosen species. They will justify their approach, identify variables or sources, plan quality data collection procedures, and revise their methodology based on structured peer critique.
Day 2
Collect
Collect
Students will systematically gather, document, and quality-check evidence (fossil images, anatomical diagrams, ecological case data, and timeline milestones) aligned to their investigable research question about a specific evolutionary adaptation. They will maintain organized raw data tables and observation logs in their Evolution Investigation Research Notebook to prepare for analysis in the next phase.
Day 3
Analyze
Analyze
Students will interpret their collected evolutionary evidence by creating data visualizations, identifying patterns and anomalies, and determining whether their findings support, contradict, or complicate their original hypothesis about how environmental changes influenced their chosen species.
Day 4
Question
Days 1–1
Day 1
Design
Days 2–2
Day 2
Collect
Days 3–3
Day 3
Analyze
Days 4–4
Day 4
Conclude
Days 5–5
July 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
20
Day 1
Question
💨 Species Spotlight Speed Dating
💨 Species Spotlight Speed Dating
❓ From Wonder to Research Question
❓ From Wonder to Research Question
21
Day 2
Design
🧪 Matching Method to Question Type
🧪 Matching Method to Question Type
📝 Evolution Methodology Plan
📝 Evolution Methodology Plan
22
Day 3
Collect
📊 Species Evidence Collection Sprint
📊 Species Evidence Collection Sprint
🧭 Data Logging Mini-Lab
🧭 Data Logging Mini-Lab
🧪 Methodology Alignment Check
🧪 Methodology Alignment Check
23
Day 4
Analyze
🗣️ Evidence Interpretation Roundtable
🗣️ Evidence Interpretation Roundtable
🔎 Patterns, Trends & Anomalies Protocol
🔎 Patterns, Trends & Anomalies Protocol
📊 Visualizing Evolutionary Data Patterns
📊 Visualizing Evolutionary Data Patterns
24
Day 5
Conclude
🧠 Writing Evidence-Based Conclusions
🧠 Writing Evidence-Based Conclusions
⚖️ Limitations & Future Questions Lab
⚖️ Limitations & Future Questions Lab
🎨 Final Infographic & Slide Polish
🎨 Final Infographic & Slide Polish
🗣️ Peer Review Symposium
🗣️ Peer Review Symposium
🖼️ Evolution Gallery Walk & Sharing Circle
🖼️ Evolution Gallery Walk & Sharing Circle