---
title: "SZ2: Animal Evolutionary History (Georgia Science standard)"
code: SZ2
cite_as: Georgia Standards of Excellence, Science, SZ2
subject: science
grades:
  - high-school
language: en
canonical_url: https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/code/SZ2
md_url: https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/code/SZ2.md
alternate_language_url: https://georgiahomeroom.org/es/standards/code/SZ2.md
source_url: https://case.georgiastandards.org/ims/case/v1p1/CFDocuments/27a08dc6-416e-11e7-ba71-02bd89fdd987
source_last_changed: 2025-05-29
data_built: 2026-09-18
publisher: Georgia Homeroom, a free public-interest project of Georgia Civic Data. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the Georgia Department of Education or any school district.
up: https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/science/high-school.md
index: https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/index.md
---

# SZ2: Animal Evolutionary History

Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to explain the evolutionary history of animals over the geological history of Earth.

- Subject: Science
- Appears in: High School, https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/science/high-school.md

## Expectations

- **SZ2.a**: Construct an explanation of the geological history of earth and the effects of major environmental changes. (Clarification statement: Explanations should be based on evidence from the fossil and geologic record. Major events include Cambrian Explosion and the causes of mass extinction events.)
- **SZ2.b**: Construct an explanation of how evolution allows species to adapt to environmental changes. (Clarification statement: Explanations should address the mechanisms that drive evolution like adaptation, natural selection, convergence, and speciation.)

## Georgia Milestones coverage

No Georgia Milestones blueprint cites this standard.

Source: Georgia Standards of Excellence, published by the Georgia Department of Education at case.georgiastandards.org.