Learn About TIES
To provide middle school teachers the tools they need to effectively teach evolution and answer its critics based on new Next Generation Science Standards.
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TIES Workshop Walk-Through
The following links take you through an actual TIES Workshop. The focus is on Florida’s middle school science standards on evolution. In their latest report, the National Center for Science Education gave Florida a grade of A for its science standards on evolution.
EVOLUTION FOR EDUCATORS: A TIES WORKSHOP
By clicking the buttons below, you can watch students working through two hands-on activities on the topic of natural selection. Both activities can be downloaded below under the “Ready-to-Go Evolution Unit” tab.
Ready-to-Go Evolution Unit
All you need to effectively address your middle school evolution standards.
Evolution Resources by Curriculum Standard
General Online Resources for Evolution
Understanding Evolution, University of California, Berkeley
Reading Guide for Understanding Evolution, UC Berkeley (DOC)
Online Educational Videos on Evolution and Science
NSTA Featured Lessons: Teaching Heredity and Evolution in the Next Generation
NSTA Learning Center
NGSS Life Science: Evolution and Natural Selection Lesson Plans
Stated Clearly [Videos] (The basics of Genetics and Evolution)
The 12 Days of Evolution Series (Videos)
From Land to Water: Whale Evolution Game
From Land to Water: Answer Key
Fact, Hypothesis, Law, and Theory
Fact vs Theory (Video)
Addressing Evolution Myths and Misconceptions
Evolution Explains Life’s Common Ancestry and Diversity
NOVA Lab Game
Evogeneao Interactive Tree of Life Explorer
One Zoom Tree of Life Explorer
The 12 Days of Evolution Series (Videos)
UC Berkeley’s The Tree Room for Teachers
Candy Phylogeny Lab (DOC)
Phylogenetics Presentation (PPT)
The History of Evolutionary Theory
Evolution Isn’t Perfect
This Lab is For the Birds (DOC)
Moth Simulation-Lab (DOCX) (See a science teacher trying out this lab with her students here)
Using the Telephone Game to Teach Natural Selection
HHMI’s Variations in the Clam Species Clamys sweetus
Excellent and Simple Explanation of Natural Selection
Why are sloths so slow?
Harvard’s University The Evolution of Bacteria on a Mega-Plate Petri Dish
HHMI BioInteractive Video Galapagos Finch Evolution (We recommend you view this
after students do This Lab is for the Birds)
Stated Clearly-Natural Selection
Amoeba Sisters-Natural Selection
For more advanced students, we recommend HHMI’s The Biology of Skin Color
Evidence for Evolution
Law of Superposition
What does the Law of Superposition Mean (Games and more)
Genes as Homologous Structures
NGSS Middle School Standards Related to Evolutionary Science
Addressing your Concerns as Science Teachers
No Evolution Standards at your grade level? Integrate them!
For Spanish Speakers
Join Our Ties Teacher Corps
Do you recognize the importance of evolutionary science in our modern society and want to educate future generations on its relevance? We are looking for science teachers who can volunteer to present workshops in their school districts and local colleges on their state science standards on evolution and natural selection.
Where We've Been
More to come in 2019!
Watch previous webinars below!
Meet the Director: Bertha Vazquez
Bertha Vazquez has been teaching middle school science in Miami-Dade County Public Schools for 24 years. She has BA in Biology from the University of Miami and a Master’s in Science Education from Florida International University. A seasoned traveler who has visited all seven continents, she enjoys introducing the world of nature and science to young, eager minds. An educator with National Board Certification, she is the recipient of several national and local honors, including the 2014 Samsung’s $150,000 Solve For Tomorrow Contest and The Charles C. Bartlett National Excellence in Environmental Award in 2009. She has been the Miami-Dade Science Teacher of the Year three times, in 1997, 2008, and 2017. She is the 2017 recipient of the National Association of Biology Teachers Evolution Education Award and is also one of Florida’s 2017 finalists for the most prestigious science award in the country, The Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.
In-Person Workshop Schedule
Join us for a live, in-person workshop!
To register for a workshop, email Bertha Vazquez.
- February 8, 2019: The 27th Annual SDSTA/SDCTM Joint Conference SD STEM Ed Conference, Crossroads Hotel & Events Center, Huron, SD, presented by Alison Bowers
- February 9, 2019: Celebrating Darwin Day at CFI, 9 AM – 12 PM, CFI Headquarters. Amherst, NY, presented by Bertha Vazquez
- February 13, 2019: Presenting the New LA Evolution Standards, 3:45-5:45 PM, St. Landry Parish, Opelousas, LA, presented by Blake Touchet
- February 15, 2019: GSTA Annual Conference, Columbus Georgia Convention and Trade Center, Columbus, GA, presented by Patti Howell
- February 16, 2019: Celebrating Darwin Day at MOSI, Museum of Science and Industry, Tampa, Fl, presented by Kenny Coogan & John Mead
- February 18, 2019: The 48th Annual HASTI Conference, STEM: Science Teachers Engaging Students, Wyndham Indianapolis-West, Indianapolis, presented by Jenna Sutton
- March 2, 2019: MSTA 66th Annual Conference, Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, Grand Rapids, MI, presented by Cheryl Hach
- March 23, 2018: Full-Day Event-Evolution for Educators. Come learn how to implement your new state science standards with engaging lessons and resources. Hogle Zoo, Salt Lake City, UT, presented by Kenny Coogan and Bertha Vazquez
- March 29, 2019: Full-Day Event at the Weatherbee Planetarium, Thrnateeska Heritage Center, Albany, GA, presented by Patti Howell and Bertha Vazquez
- April 6, 2019: Full-Day Event- Evolution for Educators at Zoo Montana, with guest speaker Dr. James Barron, Billings, MT, presented by Kenny Coogan
- October 25, 2019: Full-Day Evolution Extravaganza, Brandywine Zoo, Wilmington, DE, presented by Hannah Pretz and Bertha Vazquez
View Previous Webinars
Dr Jones Evolution of Human Skin ColorDec 10, 2018
Genomic technologies have recently led to a dramatic increase in our understanding of relationships among early members of our species. With access to genetic markers that distinguish different populations, we have been able to reconstruct a much more accurate picture of migration out of Africa and the various paths our ancestors took on the way …
TIES Webinar: Jonathan Tweet, author of Grandmother FishAug 13, 2018
Grandmother Fish is the first book to teach evolution to preschoolers, and School Library Journal calls it “groundbreaking.” The book engages young people by getting them to mimic the actions and sounds of our ancestors. They wiggle like Grandmother Fish and hoot like Grandmother Ape. The book is for ages 3–6, but teachers have also …
A Conversation with Richard DawkinsAug 1, 2018
The Teacher Institute for Evolutionary Science (TIES) hosted a special webinar with evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins and Director of TIES Bertha Vazquez. Webinar date: 4/1/2018
America’s Ongoing Problem with EvolutionAug 1, 2018
Everyone knows that the United States is not among the top tier… or even middle tier when it comes to understanding and accepting evolution. But why? This talk will briefly explore the “how did we get here?” of evolution acceptance in the United States, before zooming in on one of the most maddening causes (and …
A Taste for the BeautifulAug 1, 2018
Learn about sexual selection, mate choice, and animal communication – just in time for Valentine’s Day! Dr. Ryan will discuss the astonishing story of how the female brain drives the evolution of beauty in animals and humans. Michael Ryan will also discuss his new book! Vividly written and filled with fascinating stories, “A Taste for …
This is Your Brain On ParasitesAug 1, 2018
A riveting investigation of the myriad ways that parasites control how other creatures—including humans—think, feel, and act. These tiny organisms can only live inside another animal, and as Kathleen McAuliffe reveals, they have many evolutionary motives for manipulating their host’s behavior. Far more often than appreciated, these puppeteers orchestrate the interplay between predator and prey. …
Our face-to-face professional development workshops & webinars for middle school science teachers are being offered across the United States by members of our TIES Teacher Corps. For more information about organizing a TIES workshop or webinar near you, please contact TIES director Bertha Vazquez.
Please check back regularly for our updated webinar offerings and soon-to-be-added interactive learning modules.