Natural Selection Lab
Natural Selection Lab Ideas
Natural selection is a fundamental concept in biology, but it can be challenging for students who struggle to wrap their heads around the enormous time scale that we often use. I want to make things easy, efficient and engaging. Using hands-on activities can encourage even the most reluctant student interested. Here are a few ways to make your next natural selection lab more fun!
5 ways to make your natural selection lab more fun:
Play “Survival of the Fittest” games
Create games that simulate the concept of survival of the fittest. For example, you can have students pick beads or balls out of jar in teams and those who finish first get a prize (in terms of biology this means they would pass on their genes). Each team could be given a different object to collect the beads with and they will quickly be able to see that not all objects are equally fit for the job. Explain how this game represents how organisms that are better adapted to their environment have a better chance of surviving and reproducing.
Use examples from pop culture
Use what they know. Great examples of mutations and adaptations include traditional superhero stories. For example, you can discuss how the X-Men’s mutant powers increase their fitness and give them an advantage in terms of natural selection. This makes the topic more relatable and engaging for students.
Other connections:
- Avatar
- Spider Man
- Thor
- Wonder Woman
Conduct experiments
Experiments are an excellent way to make lessons on natural selection fun and interactive. You can have students conduct an experiment where they simulate natural selection by selecting beans of different colors from a container. The beans represent a population of organisms, and the different colors represent variations in traits. Students can see how the population changes over time based on their selections.
Use Technology
Using technology can make lessons on natural selection more interactive and engaging. Google free natural selection simulations for the most current options. I found one with a great video covering terms at Generation Genius. For example, you can use online simulations that allow students to see how different factors, such as predation or resource availability, affect the survival and reproduction of organisms. These simulations can help students visualize the concept of natural selection in action.
Don’t forget that kids need a chance to gain vocabulary, practice applying, and recalling their knowledge to prepare for end of year testing and college admissions.
Role-Playing Activities for your Natural Selection Lab Time
Role-playing activities can make lessons on natural selection more fun and memorable. For example, you can assign students different roles, such as predator or prey, and have them act out scenarios that illustrate natural selection.
I love using the Oh Deer game for this. If you don’t have a large space to play this, you can give the kids resource cards (I usually have just tear up different colored papers to represent the different resources). At each round, I ask them to hold up a card and look around. Then I hold up a card. If their card matches, they get to keep it. If their card doesn’t, then they forfeit that card (either to another play or me). I have a follow up resource so students can see these types of changes in action and apply it to tables, graphs, charts, and carrying capacity. This makes the topic more interactive and engaging for students.
More Ideas for your Natural Selection Lab
Teaching natural selection can be challenging, but there are many fun and engaging ways to make it more interesting for your students. Here are some ideas:
- Peppered moth simulation: One classic example of natural selection is the story of the peppered moth, which changed color from light to dark during the Industrial Revolution in England. You can simulate this process by placing light and dark-colored paper moths on a tree trunk, and then letting students “predator” students remove the easier-to-spot moths. I also find this works very well using white and brown rice in a white container or white paper towel and tweezers or clothespins. After several rounds, the ratio of light to dark moths should reflect the selective pressure.
- Bird beak adaptation: Another classic example of natural selection is the different beak shapes of finches in the Galapagos Islands. You can demonstrate this by having students use different tools (tweezers, pliers, chopsticks, etc.) to try to pick up different types of food (beans, rice, seeds, etc.). The tool that works best for each food item represents the beak adaptation of a particular bird species. I do this with whatever I have hanging around. I gave you more details in a Reel on IG.
- Case studies: You can have students read and analyze case studies of natural selection in action, such as the evolution of antibiotic resistance in bacteria or the evolution of pesticide resistance in insects. This can help them understand how natural selection operates in real-world scenarios.
By using these and other fun and engaging teaching methods, you can help your students better understand and appreciate the concept of natural selection and biology as a whole.
Looking for other ideas ?
