The Power of Natural Selection

The Power of Natural Selection

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to explain the difference between evolution and natural selection and describe in steps how natural selection changes the allele frequencies in a population.

This slide should be up for the whole lesson, so that the students know what they are working towards.

What do you already know about evolution and natural selection?

Evolution vs Natural Selection

Evolution is a process that describes the changes in species over time, while natural selection is a mechanism that drives the evolution of a species.

Show a simple diagram of evolution and natural selection to help students understand the difference.

How Natural Selection Works

Natural selection occurs when certain traits in a population provide an advantage for survival and reproduction, leading to those traits becoming more common over time.

Provide examples of traits that may provide an advantage in different environments.

Variation in a Population

Individuals within a population exhibit variation in traits, and this variation is due to differences in their genes.

Use images to show examples of variation within a population.

Selection Pressure

Selection pressure is the force that drives natural selection. It can be caused by environmental factors such as food availability, predators, or disease.

Provide examples of selection pressure for different species.

Survival of the Fittest

Individuals with traits that are advantageous in the current environment are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on their traits to their offspring.

Discuss the concept of 'survival of the fittest' and clarify that it does not necessarily mean the strongest or fastest individual.

Allele Frequencies

Natural selection can change the frequency of different alleles (versions of a gene) within a population over time.

Provide examples of how allele frequencies can change over time in response to different selection pressures.

Summary

Natural selection is a key mechanism of evolution that drives changes in the traits and allele frequencies of a population over time.

Recap the key points of the lesson and emphasize the importance of understanding natural selection in the study of evolution.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.