Survival of the Fittest: Understanding Evolution and Natural Selection

Survival of the Fittest: Understanding Evolution and Natural Selection

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will understand the concepts of evolution and natural selection and be able to explain how they contribute to the diversity of life.

What do you already know about the process of evolution and natural selection?

Slide 1: What is Evolution?

Evolution is the process of gradual change in species over time, leading to the development of new species from pre-existing ones.

Slide 2: The Role of Natural Selection

Natural selection is the mechanism by which species that are better adapted to their environment tend to survive and reproduce more effectively.

Slide 3: Charles Darwin and the Theory of Evolution

Charles Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection revolutionized our understanding of how species evolve and adapt to their environments.

Slide 4: Evidence for Evolution

Fossil records, comparative anatomy, and molecular biology provide evidence for the occurrence of evolution and the relatedness of living organisms.

Slide 5: Adaptation and Survival

Species develop adaptations over time to survive in their specific environments, leading to the diversity of life we observe today.

Slide 6: The Peppered Moth Example

The case of the peppered moth in England is a classic example of natural selection, where the moth's coloration changed due to industrial pollution.

Slide 7: Human Impact on Evolution

Human activities, such as pollution and habitat destruction, can impact the evolution of species and lead to changes in their traits.

Slide 8: Review and Reflection

Recap the key concepts of evolution and natural selection, and encourage students to reflect on how these concepts apply to the world around them.

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.