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Spoons, forks, chopsticks, straws: Simulating natural selection

Grade Level(s):

  • 6-8
  • 9-12
  • 13-16

Source:

  • Kathryn Flinn

Resource type:

  • Classroom activity

Time: 50 minutes

Overview

In this classroom activity, students participate in demonstrating how natural selection works. They play the roles of predators with different feeding appendages (spoons, forks, chopsticks, or straws) and compete to gather beans as prey.

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  • [Mechanisms of evolution: Grades 6-8] Evolution results from natural selection acting upon variation within a population. (LS4.B)
  • [Mechanisms of evolution: Grades 6-8] Traits that are advantageous often persist in a population. (LS4.B, LS4.C)
  • [Mechanisms of evolution: Grades 6-8] Individual organisms with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and have offspring. (LS4.B, LS4.C)
  • [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] Inherited characteristics affect the likelihood of an organism's survival and reproduction. (LS4.B, LS4.C)
  • [Mechanisms of evolution: Grades 9-12] Over time, the proportion of individuals with advantageous characteristics may increase due to their likelihood of surviving and reproducing. (LS4.B, LS4.C)
  • Disciplinary Core Idea LS4.B: Natural Selection
  • Disciplinary Core Idea LS4.C: Adaptation
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