Curated OER
Diversity/Natural Selection
Learners examine mechanisms behind biological evolution and the theories that feed it, and are able to demonstrate their knowledge of these theories in a story.
Curated OER
Artificial Selection
The second lesson in the series begins with a starter activity discussing wild versus domesticated animals. Then, scholars play a card game, with optional variations, to emphasize artificial selection. Next, they attend a field trip to a...
Curated OER
Co-evolution of Plants and Pollinators
Learners explore biological evolution and natural selection and its evolutionary consequences. They also explore how organisms are interdependent on one another.
Curated OER
Recasting Language through Found Poetry
Discover the concept of found poetry in this engaging lesson. Secondary students will explore the poem "Natural Selection" and compare it to the writings of Charles Darwin in Origin of the Species. Students chose a text and create...
Berkeley Engineering and Mentors
Darwin's Finches
Try a twist on the old finch beak and chopsticks activity by using M&Ms on a Twister mat. Spoons, knives, forks, and chopsticks represent beaks and are randomly assigned to your little birds, who must collect as much food as possible...
ARKive
Natural Selection- the Peppered Moth
Can human activity cause animals to evolve? Your budding biologists will find out the answer to some of the big questions in natural selection with a peppered moth activity. They will watch a few short videos, look at pictures, and...
Curated OER
Lizard Lab
In this detailed and comprehensive multi-day activity, budding evolutionary biologists use real data from lizard populations in the Canary Islands to examine evolution and natural selection.
Curated OER
Physiological Adaptations
Students 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. The...
Curated OER
Adventuring in the Archipelago
Pupils study Charles Darwin's voyage on the HMS Beagle and his visit to the Gal??pagos Islands. They click through an interactive map of the Gal??pagos Islands to read actual and fictional journal entries from a fellow eco-tourist.
Curated OER
Morphing
Students examine how organisms adapt to their environment in order to survive. As a class, they discuss the extinction of the dinosaurs and review Darwin's theory of survival of the fittest. They select an animal to morph in the future...
Curated OER
Humor Theories: Features vs. Functions vs. Subjects
Great for a psychology, sociology, or language arts lecture, this presentation focuses on the features, functions, and subjects of humor. Complete with definitions and examples of each category, as well as links to humorous videos and...
Curated OER
Natural Selection
Kids act as scientists and preditors in this short natural selection activity; they collect and analyze data, then apply their new knowledge to real-world examples of natural selection. The layout of the worksheet is easy enough to use...
Curated OER
The Roaring 20s Through Hoover (5)
In this online interactive American history worksheet, students answer 13 matching questions regarding 1920's America and the Hoover presidency. Students may submit their answers to be scored.
Curated OER
Struggle for Existence and Population Growth in Aphids
Students examine the population of aphids. They identify adaptations they have made for their environment. They make predictions, test their hypothesis and collect information that either proves or disproves their theory.
Curated OER
Biology Chapter 15 Word Search Puzzle
In this biology activity, middle schoolers look for the words that are related to the theme of the activity. They also work on the skills of spelling and word recognition.
Curated OER
Deep Jungle: New Frontiers
Young scholars study the world's rainforests for unusual plant and animal species. They explore how biologists use infrared cameras to explore jungles.
Curated OER
Biology: Natural Selection
Students explore evolutionary processes and theories using the spotted fish applet. They observe what happens to fish in a closed environment with both food and predators. Students run the model several times and answer questions about...
Curated OER
ESL Conversations: Inventions and Inventors
In this ESL conversation worksheet, students work in pairs to ask questions in the passive form. Students use the sentences provided and change them to passive questions. All pertain to inventions. It is unclear if students are to answer...
Curated OER
Scientists and Inventors
Fourth graders investigate scientists and inventors. In this science instructional activity, 4th graders discuss inventors and scientists. Students research their chosen inventor or scientists and write a report about that person.
Scientific American
Scientific American: Happy 200th Birthday Charles Darwin: In Depth Reports
Explore the thinking of Charles Darwin, and read how his theory of evolution survives, thrives, and shapes the way we learn about nature. (February 2009)
Story Behind the Science
Story Behind the Science: Charles Darwin [Pdf]
A detailed biography of Charles Darwin highlighting the events that shaped him as a scientist. Questions are posed throughout about the nature of scientific research.
Vision Learning
Visionlearning: Biology: Charles Darwin Ii: Natural Selection
Instructional module focusing on Charles Darwin's explanation of natural selection as the mechanism for evolution. Discusses how this force of natural selection promotes changes in species over time. Site also includes an interactive...
Vision Learning
Visionlearning: Biology: Charles Darwin Iii: Descent With Modification
Instructional module focusing on Charles Darwin's theory of Descent with Modification. Discusses how slight changes from parent to offspring create variation and potentially create new species over time. Site also includes an interactive...
New York Times
New York Times: Charles Darwin and Evolution
An outstanding collection of materials for learning about Charles Darwin and Evolution. There are many different lessons on the topics of evolution, paleontology, biodiversity, and adaptation. Each lesson is paired with an actual New...