Students investigate how fossils, body structures, embryos, and DNA clues reveal connections between past and present organisms, then apply that evidence to a real habitat restoration challenge from a local conservation organization. Working in teams, they analyze patterns of change, extinction, adaptation, and biodiversity to answer the driving question and explain how environmental and genetic factors shape survival. The purpose is to build scientific explanations and compare design solutions that protect biodiversity and ecosystem services, culminating in a short team defense and a public Deep Time Design Fair for families and community partners.

Students will analyze fossil record patterns, anatomical structures, embryological development, and simple DNA evidence to explain how modern organisms are connected to organisms of the past. They will construct evidence-based explanations for how environmental conditions and genetic variation influence survival, reproduction, growth, and evolutionary change in populations. In teams, they will evaluate and defend habitat restoration design solutions that maintain biodiversity and ecosystem services for a local conservation challenge. Students will communicate their thinking through a public design fair and team defense, while using feedback, shared decision-making, and reflection to improve their work.

Students create an evidence notebook with annotated fossil record patterns, embryo comparison sketches, trait variation data, and short claims about how modern organisms are connected to organisms of the past. In teams, they build a habitat restoration proposal that includes a model or visual prototype, a biodiversity impact comparison chart of competing design solutions, and evidence cards using fossils, body structures, and DNA clues to justify their choices. They also prepare a short team defense for the local conservation organization and design an interactive station for the Deep Time Design Fair with data displays, model habitats, and a clear explanation of how their plan supports biodiversity and ecosystem services. Individual students complete brief reflection logs and peer feedback notes to document collaboration, decision making, and revisions across the two weeks.

Begin with a visit or video message from a local conservation organization that introduces a real habitat restoration problem and asks teams to recommend a plan that protects biodiversity and ecosystem services. Students rotate through a brief “evidence mystery” with fossils, embryo images, homologous structure cards, and short DNA sequence strips to sort which organisms seem related and defend their reasoning. After the investigation, introduce the driving question, “How do fossils, body structures, and DNA clues help us figure out how living things are related across time?” and have teams generate initial claims about how past life connects to organisms living today. Close with a gallery walk of possible restoration design ideas so students can begin comparing solutions they will later defend to conservation partners at the Deep Time Design Fair.

Host a Deep Time Design Fair where teams create interactive stations featuring a model habitat restoration plan, fossil and organism comparison displays, embryology or DNA evidence cards, and short data visuals that justify their design choices. Students present a brief team defense of their plan to a local conservation organization, explaining which solution best protects biodiversity and ecosystem services and how evidence from past and present organisms supports their reasoning. Invite families and school staff to rotate through the stations, ask questions, and give feedback on the clarity, scientific evidence, and feasibility of each proposal. End with a conservation partner recognition or “best evidence” feedback round so students see their work connected to a real community challenge.