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 ORELA Middle Grades General Science: Practice & Study Guide
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Ch 48: History & Classification of Life - ORELA Middle Grades General Science

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Increase your understanding of the history and classification of life as you prepare for the ORELA Middle Grades General Science assessment. Watch engaging video lessons and take short quizzes to strengthen your knowledge of this subject area.

History & Classification of Life - ORELA Middle Grades General Science - Chapter Summary

Your preparations for the ORELA Middle Grades General Science assessment might require you to revisit concepts you haven't explored in months or years. Simplify the process of studying for the test by refreshing your ability to:

  • Describe theories behind the origin of life on Earth
  • Analyze the timeline and characteristics of the history of life on Earth
  • Discuss the endosymbiosis theory and evolutionary change
  • Explain extinction, its background and mass extinction
  • Identify the evolution classifications of cladograms and phylogenetic trees
  • Define binomial nomenclature and taxonomy
  • Share evidence for evolution and homologous structures

By watching the lessons, you have the unique opportunity to study the history and classification of life at a pace that works best for you. Review the videos as often as needed and in any order you prefer.

History & Classification of Life - ORELA Middle Grades General Science Chapter Objectives

The topics in this chapter on the history and classification of life make studying for the assessment easier by ensuring you're prepared to answer questions in the life science content domain. This domain constitutes approximately 25% of the total exam. Use the video lessons to refresh your knowledge of the subject area then take self-assessment quizzes and the chapter exam to test that knowledge. If you want to review specific portions of any lesson, use the timeline that allows you to skip to key topics within the videos.

In Oregon, the NES Middle Grades General Science assessment has replaced the ORELA test. It consists of 150 multiple-choice questions, is taken on a computer and lasts three hours. Earning a passing score of 228 or higher gets you the educator licensure needed to teach general science to students in middle grades.

10 Lessons in Chapter 48: History & Classification of Life - ORELA Middle Grades General Science
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The Origin of Life on Earth: Theories and Explanations

1. The Origin of Life on Earth: Theories and Explanations

Ever wonder how living things came from non-living things? We will explore what conditions on early Earth may have created life from non-living items.
The History of Life on Earth: Timeline and Characteristics of Major Eras

2. The History of Life on Earth: Timeline and Characteristics of Major Eras

The Earth is over 4.6 billion years old. Ever wonder what happened during certain time periods in that large amount of time? We will look at the major eons and eras of Earth's history along with important characteristics of each.
The Endosymbiosis Theory: Evolution of Cells

3. The Endosymbiosis Theory: Evolution of Cells

Ever wonder why some cells are very simple and others are complex with countless organelles to remember? We will look at how simple cells evolved to become more complex cells - as well as evidence to support this.
Evolutionary Change: Definition and Forms

4. Evolutionary Change: Definition and Forms

You've probably heard of Charles Darwin and evolution. We know that evolution is change over time, but here we will look at how these changes may have occurred during Earth's history.
What Is Extinction? - Defining Background and Mass Extinction

5. What Is Extinction? - Defining Background and Mass Extinction

In this lesson you'll discover what the term 'extinction' means as well as learn the two different types of extinction: mass extinction and background extinction. You will also discover how humans contribute to extinction events.
Cladograms and Phylogenetic Trees: Evolution Classifications

6. Cladograms and Phylogenetic Trees: Evolution Classifications

Family trees help show how people are related to each other. Similarly, scientists use cladograms and phylogenetic trees to study the relationships between organisms.
Binomial Nomenclature: Definition, Classification & System

7. Binomial Nomenclature: Definition, Classification & System

Life on Earth is incredibly diverse, with over one million species. But have you ever wondered how all these organisms are named? In this lesson, you'll learn about the scientific naming system called binomial nomenclature.
Taxonomy: Classification and Naming of Living Things

8. Taxonomy: Classification and Naming of Living Things

The name you give to a living thing may be completely different than the name someone else uses. In science, we use a common naming system for all living things to avoid confusion. This lesson will explore the basics of our classification system.
Evidence for Evolution: Paleontology, Biogeography, Embryology, Comparative Anatomy & Molecular Biology

9. Evidence for Evolution: Paleontology, Biogeography, Embryology, Comparative Anatomy & Molecular Biology

There is much support for the theory of evolution. This evidence comes from a variety of scientific fields and provides information that helps us trace changes in species over time. In this lesson, we'll look at this evidence and explore how it supports the theory of evolution.
Homologous Structures: Comparison of Body Structures Across Species

10. Homologous Structures: Comparison of Body Structures Across Species

Did you know that you share the same structures as a monkey? Okay, you may have guessed that, but what about a whale or a bat? Learn about similarities in bone and muscle structure in this lesson that covers body shape across species.
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