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Year 6 - Science

Human skulls: using evidence from the past (non-statutory)

Evolution and inheritance

Unit Summary

This unit explores how living things have changed over time, using fossils as evidence of past life. It covers how offspring vary from parents and how adaptation leads to evolution. Emphasis is on planning scientific enquiries, recording data, and evaluating scientific evidence.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to describe how human skulls have changed over time and use fossil evidence to suggest reasons why.

Key Notes

  • Scientists who study humans depend on fossil evidence to help them learn about how our ancestors have changed over time.
  • Human skulls can show changes in characteristics such as: skull shape, brain and jaw size.
  • Modern day skulls show differences, suggested by scientists, linked to humans chewing softer, processed food.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • prehistoric: Prehistoric times are time periods which came before written records began.
  • fossil: A fossil is the remains or imprint of living things that are sometimes preserved in rock.
  • evidence: Evidence is information which helps us to prove that something is true or not true.
  • ancestor: Your ancestor lived in the past and is directly related to you.
  • skull: The skull is the name for the bones of the head.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Pupils may think that humans as we know them have always looked the same as they do now.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.

Scientists who study humans depend on fossil evidence to help them learn about how our ancestors have changed over time. Human skulls can show changes in characteristics such as: skull shape, brain and jaw size.

2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'prehistoric'

Prehistoric times are time periods which came before written records began. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.

3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.

Mistake: Pupils may think that humans as we know them have always looked the same as they do now. Correction: Use the images of skulls in the slide deck to clearly show how humans' appearance has changed over many thousands of years.

More Lessons In This Unit

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