Learn on PengiAmplify Science (California) Grade 8Chapter 4: Science Seminar (Case Study: The Tometti Fossil)

Lesson 2: Debating Classification

Key Idea.

Section 1

Building the Argument

Key Idea

In the seminar, we construct a final scientific argument.

  • Claim: Tometti is more closely related to birds than to crocodiles.

Section 2

Certainty in Science

Key Idea

Science does not always require 100% of the skeleton to be found. If we find highly specific diagnostic structures, we can be confident in our classification.

This process demonstrates how paleontology works: using observable physical evidence from the past to reconstruct the Tree of Life, rather than guessing based on artistic impressions of what the animal looked like.

Book overview

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Chapter 4: Science Seminar (Case Study: The Tometti Fossil)

  1. Lesson 1

    Lesson 1: Analyzing the Tometti Fossil

  2. Lesson 2Current

    Lesson 2: Debating Classification

  3. Lesson 3

    Lesson 3: End-of-Unit Assessment

Lesson overview

Expand to review the lesson summary and core properties.

Expand

Section 1

Building the Argument

Key Idea

In the seminar, we construct a final scientific argument.

  • Claim: Tometti is more closely related to birds than to crocodiles.

Section 2

Certainty in Science

Key Idea

Science does not always require 100% of the skeleton to be found. If we find highly specific diagnostic structures, we can be confident in our classification.

This process demonstrates how paleontology works: using observable physical evidence from the past to reconstruct the Tree of Life, rather than guessing based on artistic impressions of what the animal looked like.

Book overview

Jump across lessons in the current chapter without opening the full course modal.

Continue this chapter

Chapter 4: Science Seminar (Case Study: The Tometti Fossil)

  1. Lesson 1

    Lesson 1: Analyzing the Tometti Fossil

  2. Lesson 2Current

    Lesson 2: Debating Classification

  3. Lesson 3

    Lesson 3: End-of-Unit Assessment