Curated OER
Change by Chance?
Sixth graders are able to see the role of chance in evolution. The activity is similar to the party game "gossip" or "telephone." Students start off with a drawing of an animal which changes as they pass their copies of the animal to...
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
Nowhere to Hide
Students examine the topic of natural selection. As a class, they write their own definition to survival of the fittest and watch a video. Using the internet, they research how Darwin started to examine this process using finches and how...
Curated OER
Preying on Beans
Students act as predators searching for prey (beans) in two different settings to demonstrate the processes of adaptation and selection.
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...
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
Morphing
Pupils 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 and...
Curated OER
Adventuring in the Archipelago
Students 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
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
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
Nuts & Bolts: is Classification, Arbitrary, Or Not?
Students, in groups, classify furniture, share their categories and rationales, then note how their different schemes vary, perfectly logical and useful, but completely arbitrary.
Curated OER
Contrivances: Orchids and the Panda's Thumb
Middle schoolers read and discuss selected and edited excerpts from the essays of Stephen Jay Gould on the subject of contrivances.
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.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Episd: Evolution of Life
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Meet Charles Darwin and his theory of evolution and natural selection. Understand why adaptations are important.
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: Biology: Evolution
Through informational text, online lab activities, virtual simulations, and video clips, students study the concepts of biological evolution.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Adaptive Radiation: Darwin's Finches
Finches on the Galapagos Islands have evolved to exploit almost every possible niche. This diagram shows the range of food sources available on the island and the different beak shapes adapted to exploit each of them. Includes background...
Vision Learning
Visionlearning: Biology: Charles Darwin I: The Origin of Species
Instructional module focusing on the early work of Charles Darwin. Discusses Darwin's key role in supporting and describing the theory of evolution as driven by natural selection. Site also includes an interactive practice quiz and links...
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...
CPALMS
Florida State University Cpalms: Florida Students: Florida Fossils: Evidence of Evolution
See how fossils have shown evidence of evolution throughout the history of the Earth.
Other
The Rise of Evolutionary Biology: Darwin's Ideas
These pages are part of a site called "Evolution," that accompany a textbook by the same name. Mark Ridley is the author. This section is about Darwin, his travels, and his observations that led to "On The Origins Of Species."
The History Cat
The History Cat: Charles Darwin & the Theory of Evolution
Outlines the events of Charles Darwin's own evolution into a scientist and how he developed his Theory of Evolution. Also discusses the immense resistance to his ideas that he faced from all fronts. Even today, many people refuse to...
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Biology: Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Covers Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection.
Other
The Rise of Evolutionary Biology: Biology Before Darwin
These pages are part of a site called "Evolution," that accompanies a textbook by the same name. Mark Ridley is the author. Here he discusses theories for species change that were before Darwin published "On the Origin of Species."
BiologyWise
Biology Wise: Charles Darwin: Introduction to the Theory of Evolution
The main concepts in Charles Darwin's theory of evolution are described, how natural selection works, and the ongoing criticism of evolution from Creationists.