Why Are These Wings So Different?

NGSS Phenomena:
Use the image and information below to help you answer the questions that follow. This image was published in 1892, comparing the skeletons of 3 different flying animals: the pterodactyl, the bat, and the bird.


Pterodactyls existed between 228 to 66 million years ago

Bats have existed for the last 50 million years

Birds have existed for the last 121 million years
NGSS Phenomena: Three skeletons of flying organisms, with their wings spread out in the same direction. Each of them has multiple bones that come out to form their wing.

1.
The image from the question was published in 1892 and compares the skeletons of 3 different flying animals: the pterodactyl, the bat, and the bird. Discuss 2 similarities and two differences between the 3 wings. Then using the image below to predict what layer(s) the pterodactyl, bat, and bird fossils would be located in and why.

2. Which statement is accurate?

3. The similarities in the wings of pterodactyls, birds, and bats are evidence that:

4. How did the author of this book use this image to organize information to help people see similarities and differences between these different living things?

5. Does the similarity between each of these animals mean that their wings came from a common ancestor?

6. Use the drawing tools and colors to help identify patterns in each animal to make it easier to see similarities between them.

Color

Width

7. From oldest to youngest, both the and were alive at the same time, but more recently came along.

Drag the answers below into the grey placeholders above

pterodactyl
bat
bird

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This free response question aligns to the following standards

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This multiple choice question aligns to the following standards

  • LS4.A: Evidence of Common Ancestry and Diversity

  • MS-LS4-1

This free response question aligns to the following standards

  • LS4.A: Evidence of Common Ancestry and Diversity

  • Patterns

  • MS-LS4-1

This multiple choice question aligns to the following standards

  • LS4.A: Evidence of Common Ancestry and Diversity

  • Patterns

  • MS-LS4-1

  • Analyzing and Interpreting Data

This drawing question aligns to the following standards

  • LS4.A: Evidence of Common Ancestry and Diversity

  • Analyzing and Interpreting Data

  • Patterns

  • MS-LS4-1

This matching question aligns to the following standards

  • MS-LS4-1

  • LS4.A: Evidence of Common Ancestry and Diversity

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