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How Evolution Works
Students work in groups to investigate and present genetic variation, adaptation, and sexual selection as it relates to evolution. In this evolution activity, students watch a video discuss how the human eye could evolve due to natural...
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The Great Jellybean Hunt
Young scholars model natural selection by acting as predators of jellybeans. In this evolution instructional activity, students use plastic utensils to pick up jellybeans. They use different colors of backgrounds to demonstrate the...
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GED Vocabulary: Life Science
In this life science vocabulary activity, students complete a crossword puzzle using 10 given clues about various topics of life science such as natural selection, cell structures and function and components of the body systems. Students...
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Standard 4-Ecosystems
In this ecosystem worksheet, students answer questions about energy pyramids, food chains, consumers, producers, decomposers, biotic and abiotic factors in an environment, natural selection and the importance of biodiversity in an...
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Relationships and Biodiversity Lab
In this relationships and biodiversity learning exercise, students investigate the relationships between 4 plants sample using 7 different tests. These include looking at structural characteristics of the plants, seeds and stems, using...
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Peppered Moth Simulation
Students investigate the process of natural selection in peppered moths. In this natural selection lesson plan, students simulate peppered moths in environments similar to those during the industrial revolution. Students use white paper...
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Survival of the Sneakiest
In this natural selection worksheet, students read a cartoon about cricket mating that explains natural selection, fitness and evolution. They answer four questions about each of these topics.
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Comparison of Evolution Mechanism
In this comparison of evolution worksheets, students read information about Lamarck's hypothesis of evolution and Darwin's hypothesis of evolution. Students then rate the scenarios given as either supportive of Lamarck's or Darwin's...
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The Peppered Moth
In this evolution worksheet, students read about the changes the peppered moth went through over 100 year time period. Students complete 3 short answer questions based on what they read.
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Why Does Evolution Matter Now?
Students examine how natural selection creates antibiotic-resistant bacteria,
recognize applications of evolutionary principles for medicine, agriculture, and conservation, and discuss how science contributes to decisions in context of...
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Natural Selection
Students estimate how many different species of organisms inhabit the Earth. In groups, they match the pictures of embryos at the different stages of development. They compare and contrast animals from the sky, land, and water and...
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Natural Selection Day 1
Students define the concept of classification. In groups, they categorize a series of objects into categories they identify. As a class, they participate in a variety of activities to examine the concept of natural selection. To end...
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Beans and Birds: A Natural Selection Simulation
Students solve the following problem concerning the evolution of seed color in pinto bean plants: "How does natural selection change the frequency of genes or traits over many generations?" They use the constructivist approach to...
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Mimicry: An Example of Adaptation
High schoolers are able to explain the relationship between adaptation and ability for survival and reproduction. They are able to give examples of a series of adaptations that would support the idea that evolution is a series of minor...
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Why Do People Fall in Love?
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.
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Habitats and Adaptations
Students research and describe the habitat and adaptations of a reef animal. After the student is assigned a habitat, they design and draw a cresture adapted to eat each food and to live in each habitat.
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Who Was Charles Darwin?
Students complete two activities to study Charles Darwin's Theory of Natural Selection. They read Darwin's journal from the voyage of the Beagle and look at the scientific ideas that influenced the development of his theory.
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How Does Evolution Work?
Students investigate how natural selection influences evolution. They complete a hands-on lab simulation of natural selection, and replicate a real experiment and examine the interplay between selection factors in a population of guppies.
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You Talkin' To Me?: Investigations in Animal Behavior
Students investigate a variety of animal behaviors, examine various modes of animal communication, and develop a catalog analyzing, interpreting, and reporting their results.
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The Creation of an Imaginary Species
Students explore the characteristics that distinguish different forms of animal life on Earth which are the results of natural selection and adaptations to their environment. The creatures are created using a game and then drawn by the...
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The Chips Are Down: A Natural Selection Simulation
Students, in teams, use different colored paper chips to represent prey and a piece of fabric as the environment.
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Natural Selection.... a Cumulative Process... it's in the cards!
Students working in pairs attempt to produce a full sequence of 13 cards of one suit (ace - to king). This must be done by shuffling the suit of cards for each round, then checking the cards.
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Lamarck And Darwin
Students compare Lamarck's mechanism for evolution with Darwin's theory of natural selection.
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Preying on Beans
Students act as predators searching for prey (beans) in two different settings to demonstrate the processes of adaptation and selection.