Natural selection increases the frequency of characteristics that make individuals better adapted.  

Evolution is the cumulative change in the heritable characteristics of a population.  

• Define evolution, natural selection and fitness.

• State that selection acts on individuals resulting in evolution of the population.

• Compare the reproductive success of better and less well-adapted individuals in a population.

Natural selection increases the frequency of characteristics that make individuals better adapted and decreases the frequency of other characteristics leading to changes within the species (5.2.U7)

Evolution occurs when heritable characteristics of species change (5.1.U1).

Initial Knowledge Audit (ICI)

• For students

• For teachers

Overview of Evolution by Natural Selection Notes (ICTD)

Jelly bean demo

Darwin’s Dangerous Idea pt 1

Species tend to produce more offspring than the environment can support. 

• State that species have the ability to produce more offspring than the environment can support.

• Use an example to illustrate the potential for overproduction of offspring in a population.

• Define carrying capacity.

• Compare exponential and logistic models of population growth.

Malthus and Populations reading and questions (ICTD)

Historical writings questions

Modeling overproduction of offspring (PSOW)

Overproduction notes (ICTD)

Read Serengeti Rules (Sean Carroll) pages 30-32 (OCI).

Natural Selection can only occur if there is variation among members of the same species.

• Define variation.

• Outline the role of genes and environment on phenotype.

• Explain why natural selection can only function if there is variation in a species.

• State that only inherited variation can be acted upon by natural selection.

• Outline sources of genetic variation (mutation, meiosis and sexual reproduction). 

• Contrast discrete with continuous variation.

• State an example of a discrete variation.

• State an example of a continuous variation.

Natural selection can only occur if there is variation among members of the same species (5.2.U1).

Variations can be discrete or continuous

(10.2.U3).

Mutation, meiosis and sexual reproduction cause variation between individuals in a species (5.2.U2)

What is variation notes (ICTD)

Discrete vs continuous variation (OCI)

Details about Genetic Variation notes (OCI)

Variation lab options (PSOW)

• Analysis template for quantifying variation (first slide is the student handout, prints 11X17)

• Quantifying variation lab

• Measuring bird variation

• Variation in anoles

• Sunflower seed variation

• Handspan variation

• Variation inquiry

From Atoms to Traits reading (A&B)

• Questions for students

• For teachers

How Humans Lost Their Tails  (A&B)

Check for Understanding (OCI)

• For students

• For teachers

Selective pressures influence the survival and reproduction of individuals in a population.

• Define selective pressure.

• State example selective pressures.

• Outline how a selective pressure acts on the variation in a population.

Sexual selection is natural selection for mating success. NOT CURRENTLY TAUGHT

• Describe examples of sexual selection, including for color, size, and physical ways to attract a mate (movements or ornamentation).

Selective Pressure Notes

PBS Evolution; Why Sex? (A&B)

• Video chapter descriptions

• Video questions:  “Why Sex?”

Individuals that are better adapted tend to survive and reproduce, passing on the favorable adaptation to their offspring while those who are less well-adapted tend to produce fewer or no offspring. 

• Explain the effect of the selective pressure on the more and less adapted individuals in a population.

• Define adaptation.

• List examples of adaptations.

Individuals that reproduce pass on characteristics to their offspring (5.2.U6)

Individuals that are better adapted tend to survive and produce more offspring while the less well adapted tend to die or produce fewer offspring (5.2.U5)

Adaptations are characteristics that make an individual suited to its environment and way of life (5.2.U3)

Darwin and Natural Selection reading and questions (ICTD)

Differential Survival and Reproduction notes (ICTD)

Adaptation (OCI) - for examples

Evolution is the change in the heritable characteristics of a population over successive generations.

• Explain the cause of the change in frequency of heritable traits in a population through natural selection.

• Outline the effect of the strength of a selective pressure on the rate of change in the population.

Change in Pop/time notes (ICTD)

Depending on the year, we’ll do EITHER a simulation or a role play:

Simulations (PSOW)

• Conflicting Pressures

• Adaptation is for Populations

• Relative Frequency of Alleles

• Phet Simulation 1 or Phet Simulation 2

Role Plays (ICTD)

• Natural Selection Role Play

• Natural selection role play with alleles

• Bird beaks and beans  or AAAS Lesson on Natural Selection

• Birds and Beetles

Evolution Case Studies from HHMI (ICTD)

Check for Understanding (OCI)

• For students

• For teachers

Natural selection can change the frequency of individuals with particular traits, depending which phenotype is more favorable within a particular environment.  

• Define stabilizing, disruptive and directional selection.

• Use graphs to illustrate or identify stabilizing, disruptive and directional selection.

• Outline an example of stabilizing, disruptive and directional selection.

Modes of selection notes (OCI)

Review of natural selection (ICTD)

Explain these adaptations arising from natural selection (OCI)

Kahoot review (ICTD)

Quizizz Review (OCI)

1 page-summary (OCI)

• General directions

• Specifics for this unit

Final Knowledge Audit (ICI)

• For students

• For teachers

Readings:

• Nothing in Biology Makes Sense Except in the Light of Evolution

• Evolutions Evolution

Related to Religion:

• When Science and Theology Meet

• Perspectives on Evolution 

• 15 Answers to Creationist Nonsense

• Belief continuum graphic and descriptors

Misconceptions

• Evolution Misconception Survey