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2. Human evolution, from apes to you!
Y6 EVOLUTION AND INHERITANCE
LESSON 6:
Human evolution, from apes to you!

3. Today you will learn
How and why Homo Sapiens (the species that you belong to) evolved
The differences and similarities between Homo Sapiens and other living things

4. STARTER QUESTION:
What makes your body different to the bodies of other animals and why? Discuss with your partner.

5. Here are some of THE ANSWERS you could have had:
I am better looking than my brother 
I don’t have as many legs as spiders!
My eyes face forwards instead of sideways.
Here are some of THE ANSWERS you could have had:
I don’t have as much fur as a bear.
My teeth aren’t as sharp as a shark.
I have a shorter neck than a giraffe.

6. But why? I am better looking than my brother 
Hmmm .. not sure about this one 
Because two legs are enough for me to survive with.
I don’t have as many legs as spiders!
Because I don’t have many predators to look out for.
My eyes face forwards instead of sideways.
But why?
Because I wear clothes and my ancestors discovered fire!
I don’t have as much fur as a bear.
Because I am an omnivore and eat both vegetables and meat, so some of my teeth are flat for grinding.
My teeth aren’t as sharp as a shark.
Because I eat from the fridge and not high trees!
I have a shorter neck than a giraffe.

7. So like every other living thing, your body has evolved throughout the history of life on Earth. This is mostly because of the changes in the landscape millions of years ago, when some of the primitive apes that would eventually evolve into us started to move from the trees to the land, like this ..

8. Human evolution Hominidae 15m yrs Homo Habilis & others 2.8m yrs
Homo Erectus
1.8m yrs
Homo Sapiens
160,000 yrs

9. Human evolution Our African ape ancestor Hominidae 15m yrs
Homo Habilis & others
2.8m yrs
Homo Erectus
1.8m yrs
Homo Sapiens
160,000 yrs

10. Moving from the trees to the land
Human evolution
Hominidae
15m yrs
Homo Habilis & others
2.8m yrs
Homo Erectus
1.8m yrs
Homo Sapiens
160,000 yrs

11. Starting to walk upright
Human evolution
Hominidae
15m yrs
Homo Habilis & others
2.8m yrs
Homo Erectus
1.8m yrs
Homo Sapiens
160,000 yrs

12. Human evolution Hominidae 15m yrs Homo Habilis & others 2.8m yrs
Modern intelligent human beings
Human evolution
Hominidae
15m yrs
Homo Habilis & others
2.8m yrs
Homo Erectus
1.8m yrs
Homo Sapiens
160,000 yrs

13. Human evolution Hominidae 15m yrs Homo Habilis & others 2.8m yrs
Homo Erectus
1.8m yrs
Homo Sapiens
160,000 yrs

14. How the human body has evolved: THE BRAIN
Uses 20% of your oxygen and blood
Uses the 2nd highest calories after your digestive system
An adult brain weighs 1.3kg

15. How the human body has evolved: THE pelvis
Faces more forward than apes to allow forward, upright movement
Thicker and wider to support an upright body

16. How the human body has evolved: THE hand
Has longer thumbs (called OPPOSABLE THUMBS) than apes so that we can grip
Our fingers are straight while apes are curved, which allows a wider grip

17. How the human body has evolved: THE foot
Humans have a larger, stronger ankle than apes
We have a foot arch that allows us to spring when we walk, run or jump

18. Tell the person next to you ..
Learning check:
Tell the person next to you ..
How the human body has evolved over time
Why these changes have happened

19. Brought to you by www.priMARYSCIENCEWORKSHOPS.CO.UK