Sexual Selection Lesson Plans

Learners work in groups to investigate and present genetic variation, adaptation, and sexual selection as it relates to evolution. In this evolution lesson, learners watch a video discuss how the human eye could evolve due to natural selection. They view more videos and research three aspects of evolution. They present their findings to the class and discuss the evolution of different finch beaks on the Galapagos Islands.

Students research how sexual selection plays a role in driving evolution. They experiment how variation exists within not just obvious physical traits, but metabolically and behaviorally. They write a letter describing a problem, and a response explaining the reason for the problem.

In this lesson learners explore the meanings of natural selection and sexual selection. They discover the role that genetic variation, adaptation, and sexual selection play in natural selection.

This lesson has students discuss human behavior, sexual selection and the underlying genetic and evolutionary reasons for mate selection. The, in groups, they rate the attractiveness of certain individuals and measure facial features for symmetry.

Students pretend they are a scientist like John Endler in this Web activity. They visit his pools, from hypotheses, and test them out. In the process, the explore about natural selection and sexual selection. They are able to explain the interplay between selection factors in a population of guppies.

Learners discuss the evolution of the eye and how a complex organ can evolve through natural selection. They research genetic variation, adaptation, and sexual selection. They analyze data to determine how beak length of Gal??pagos finches evolved.

This lesson has students examine the term natural selection and what behavioral adaptations are.  In this evolution lesson students view videos about evolution and perform experiments that simulate populations that interplay between the forces of predation and sexual selection.

This lesson will help learners examine their preconceptions and assumptions about racial categories and understand the impossibility of constructing a consistent system of human racial classification.

In this lesson students view a video clip on bowerbirds. They research and compare and contrast the different types of bowers created by them. They work together to answer questions on the birds behavior.

Students explore natural selection using an interactive online website. In this biology lesson, students research about a specific natural selection topic. They create a visual aid about it and share their findings in class.