MS-LS4.C: Adaptation


  • MS-LS4.C: Adaptation Lab Experiment
    Peppered Moth Modeling Lab
    Free Lesson Plan
     
    Lab
    Students will simulate how predators locate prey in different environments using forceps, newspaper and colored papers. Students will analyze how color affects an organism's ability to survive in certain environments.
    NGSS Standard
    HS-LS4-2
    HS-LS4-3
    MS-LS4-6 (Trait Frequencies)
    		  
    Published by Shannan Muskopf
  • MS-LS4.C: Adaptation Lab Experiment
    Evolution by Natural Selection Lab
    Free Student Handout
    Free Teacher Notes
     
    Lab
    In this evolution by natural selection lab, students start by answering questions on how mice's habitat affects the survival rate of different fur colors of mice. The students simulate the mice using a fork or spoon and a cup and try to eat pom-poms. The pom-poms are different colors, and they reside in different color habitats. Students learn how other evolutionary adaptations contribute to differences in survival and reproductive rates, allowing students to see changing allele frequencies in their modeled population.
    NGSS Standard
    HS-LS4-2
    HS-LS4-3
    HS-LS4-4
    MS-LS4-4 (Benefits of Variation)
    MS-LS4-6 (Trait Frequencies)
    		  
    Published by Ingrid Waldron and Jennifer Doherty
  • MS-LS4.C: Adaptation Lab Experiment
    Natural Selection Lab - Beans Simulation
    Free Lesson Plan
     
    Lab
    Students model natural selection by using tools such as spoons to "capture" beans and determine the best adaptations for survival.
    NGSS Standard
    HS-LS4-2
    HS-LS4-3
    MS-LS4-6 (Trait Frequencies)
    		  
    Published by Shannan Muskopf
  • MS-LS4.C: Adaptation Lab Experiment
    Genetic Drift Lab
    Free Lesson Plan
    Free Student Handout
     
    Lab
    Students role dice and chart how a pretend worm population reproduces through many generations. This activity is easy to perform and lets students visually see how an allele frequency appears to occur randomly. 5 colored pencils and dice are required for each group of students.
    NGSS Standard
    MS-LS4-5 (Artificial Selection)
    MS-LS4-6 (Trait Frequencies)
    		  
    Published by The University of Arizona

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