• [History of life: Grades 9-12] Rates of evolution vary.
• [History of life: Grades 13-16] Rates of evolution vary.
• [Evidence of evolution: Grades 9-12] Artificial selection provides a model for natural selection.
• [Evidence of evolution: Grades 13-16] Artificial selection provides a model for natural selection.
• [Mechanisms of evolution: Grades 9-12] Evolution results from selection acting upon genetic variation within a population. (LS4.B)
• [Mechanisms of evolution: Grades 9-12] Natural selection acts on the variation that exists in a population. (LS4.B, LS4.C)
• [Mechanisms of evolution: Grades 9-12] Populations, not individuals, evolve.
• [Mechanisms of evolution: Grades 13-16] Evolution results from natural selection acting upon genetic variation within a population.
• [Mechanisms of evolution: Grades 13-16] Natural selection may favor individuals with one extreme value for a trait, shifting the average value of that trait in one direction over the course of many generations.
• [Nature of science: Grades 9-12] A hallmark of science is exposing ideas to testing. (P3, P4, P6, P7)
• [Nature of science: Grades 13-16] A hallmark of science is exposing ideas to testing.

• Disciplinary Core Idea LS4.B: Natural Selection
• Disciplinary Core Idea LS4.C: Adaptation
• Science and Engineering Practice 3. Planning and carrying out investigations
• Science and Engineering Practice 4. Analyzing and interpreting data
• Science and Engineering Practice 6. Constructing explanations and designing solutions
• Science and Engineering Practice 7. Engaging in argument from evidence

The standard exercise is suitable for upper-level high school (AP) and introductory biology students at the college level.

Additional teaching tips for 13-16:
This exercise can be easily modified to teach advanced evolutionary topics in upper-level courses in evolution and/or ecology and suggestions are given.

• Artificial Selection
• Natural Selection