Howard Hughes Medical Institute
The Making of the Fittest: Evolving Switches, Evolving Bodies
How did the stickleback fish, which was once ocean bound, evolve to be able to persist in freshwater lakes? Hear from the scientists who identified the genes and related switches that allowed these survivors to adapt. In addition to the...
Curated OER
Lesson Plan - Appearances are Deceiving
Herre is a lesson on divergent and convergent evolution. It has links to terrific video clips, an associate worksheet, and more. The analysis questions have been reviewed separately on Lesson Planet if you would like more information....
Curated OER
Variations in Living Things
Biology beginners observe traits in a collection of plant parts to realize the tremendous amount of genetic variation within a species. They consider rules of nature and discuss what would happen if they changed. They also examine data...
Curated OER
The Great Jellybean Hunt
Students model natural selection by acting as predators of jellybeans. In this evolution lesson, students use plastic utensils to pick up jellybeans. They use different colors of backgrounds to demonstrate the effects of camouflage and...
Curated OER
How Evolution Works
Students examine the term natural selection and what behavioral adaptations are. For this evolution lesson students view videos about evolution and perform experiments that simulate populations that interplay between the forces of...
Curated OER
Ecology and Evolution
Students identify the different taxonomic classifications of organisms. For this biology lesson, students create their own organisms and make some changes according to environmental conditions. They present their work in class.
Curated OER
Charles Darwin
Students produce a newspaper describing the times during which Charles Darwin introduced the theory of natural selection. In this evolution lesson, students make observations and explore the role of observation in Charles Darwin's work....
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Lactase Persistence: Evidence for Selection
What's the link between lactase persistence and dairy farming? Biology scholars analyze data to find evidence of the connection, then relate this to human adaptation. Working individually and in small groups, learners view short video...
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Lactose Intolerance: Fact or Fiction
Around the world, about 2/3 of adult humans are lactose intolerant. Scholars work in small groups to discuss a few statements about lactose intolerance. Then, they watch a video on the topic and readdress each statement. Whole-class...
Curated OER
What Proof is There to Support Biological evolution?
Pupils identify who developed the theory of evolution. The concepts of adaptation and development are discussed. The age of the earth is explored in relationship to the development of various species. The condition of the environment of...
Curated OER
Natural Selection And Evolution
Students investigate the concept of evolution and how natural selection is used as an indicator that evolution has happened. They recognize the three effects it has on diversity and how adaptations can develop. Diversity is explained as...
Curated OER
Orchids and Evolution
Students study Charles Darwin's evolutionary theory and how he applied it to orchids. In this evolution lesson students repeat Darwin's orchid pollination experiment.
Curated OER
Evolution
Students research the theory of evolution and the controversy. In this evolution lesson students view a film on Charles Darwin then they write an essay about whether or not intelligent design should be taught in science class.
Curated OER
Evolution of Life
Students explore the evolution of life. They read sections of their text and make a foldable of the key vocabulary terms. They identify two types of butterflies and represent their similarities and differences on a Venn diagram. They...
Curated OER
Whale Adaptations
Students explore whales and how they have adapted to survive in the ocean. In this whale adaptations lesson students complete several activities that allow them to investigate animal adaptations.
Curated OER
Seabird Survival Adaptation Card Game
Learners study seabirds and how they have adapted to their environments. In this activity based lesson students will play a card game that will allow them to have a better understanding of seabirds and their adaptations.
Curated OER
Building Bodies
Students identify key anatomical similarities and differences between great apes and humans. They infer likely anatomical features in ancient human ancestors and list principal anatomical changes in primates necessary for adaptation to...
Curated OER
A Journey with a Scientist
Learners work in groups as they read chapters of Charles Darwin's, Voyage of the Beagle. They take notes on the chapter and in their group make a timeline of the chapter. They tape the timelines together in order to depict the entire...
Curated OER
Mice Rule!
Pupils explain what biodiversity is and how adaptive features are maintained in a population. In this biodiversity lesson students complete a simple activity involving mouse populations.
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Reading Primary Sources: Darwin and Wallace
Take your classes back in time. Learners read real historical texts from both Darwin and Wallace as well as an announcement of their findings. Using guiding questions, they make inferences and draw conclusions from the information in the...
Curated OER
Molecular Approaches to Evolution
High schoolers examine the molecular studies of organisms that have led to a new era in their understanding of speciation and evolutionary relationships. Students study the allelic frequency of genes controlling specific molecules and...
Curated OER
Physiological Adaptations
High schoolers investigate the concepts of genetics and how it is tied to the variations found within different species and how it is tied to adaptations. They review the theory of evolution and factors found to help create variation....
Curated OER
Elephant Seals - Evolution
Students create posters or skits based on specific adaptive characteristics of elephant seals.
Curated OER
Natural Selection
Students comprehend that natural selectionis the tool for adaptation and evolution of populations. They pick three M&M's and no candy corns. Students tally the number of different color M&M's chosen. They discuss why colors...