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Subject: Science
Synopsis of Unit
The differences and similarities between living things are the subject of this unit.
The student will learn how living things are classified based on their
characteristics, and how these characteristics help living things survive. They will
learn how populations of organisms adapt to changes in the environment. They
will also learn how fossils provide information about living things of the past.
Finally, students will learn about environmental problems and solutions.
Allen, K. Z. (2010). Tennessee Holt science and technology. Teacher's ed. S.l.:
Holt McDougal.
a. Lesson Title: Classification
b. Lesson Sequence: a) Introductory b) Sequential c) Culminating d) Review
Tennessee State Standards:
a. GLE 0807.5.3 Analyze how structural, behavioral, and physiological
adaptations within a population enable it to survive in a given environment.
b. GLE 0807.5.4 Explain why variation within a population can enhance the
chances for group survival.
Teachers Instructional Objectives:
a. Identify the characteristics within a population that allow it to survive in its
environment.
b. Determine if variation is helpful or a hindrance in different situations.
Assessment:
a. Lab worksheet will indicate the students logic behind what organisms can
survive different disasters.
Procedures:
a. Set/Motivation:
i. A video or activity on survivability, preferably on surviving a disaster.
Recommended: Sepups Natural Selection simulator
http://sepuplhs.org/high/sgi/teachers/evolution_act11_sim.html
b. Instruction:
i. Teaching Strategies
1. Provide notes on Natural Selection (speciation, generation
time, adaptation, etc), such as the PowerPoints transcript
supplied below in the Materials section. For students that
require notes, print off transcript or make a notes sheet with the
key terms cut out (the student will fill these in during the notes
portion of the lesson).
2. The teacher will circulate during supervised practice and assist
students with their questions. It is important that students
understand there is no one right answer, as long as they use
logic to reach it.
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Materials/Media
a. Candy-coated chocolates
b. Paper towels
PowerPoint Transcript
Natural Selection in Action
Chapter 4, Section 3
Bellringer
What are two examples of how natural selection can result in an adaptation that helps an
organism survive?
Changes in Populations
The theory of natural selection explains how a population changes in response to its
environment. Those well-adapted to their environment have a better chance of surviving
and reproducing.
Changes in Populations
Adaptation to Hunting
Organisms will adapt to other stressors like hunting, such as tusk-less elephants.
Hunters do not go for elephants that do not have valuable ivory tusks, so those
born without are more likely to survive.
Changes in Populations
Insecticide Resistance
To control pests many people use insecticides
A few insects in a population are resistant to the chemical
These insects survive and reproduce
Generation time is the average time between one generation and the next. If an
insect has a short generation time, this means that the insects produce many
offspring rapidly.
Changes in Population
Changes in Populations
Competition for Mates
Survival of individuals does not guarantee survival of a species. For a species to survive,
its members must reproduce. Natural selection works based on reproduction. For
organisms that reproduce sexually, competition for mates can select for adaptations.
Forming a New Species
Drastic changes can form a new species.
A species is a group of organisms that can mate with each other to produce fertile
offspring.
A new species may form after a group forms a new population.
Eventually, the new population and the original differ to the point where they can no
longer mate.
The formation of a new species as a result of change over time is called speciation.
Forming a New Species
Separation
Speciation often begins when a part of a population becomes separated from the
rest.
Ex: a newly formed canyon, a mountain range, or a lake can divide a population.
Forming a New Species
Adaptation
Natural selection continues to act on the groups after they have separated.
Over generations, groups may develop different sets of traits.
Environmental conditions can cause the groups new adaptations to differ.
Division
Even if two separated groups are reunited, they may no longer be able to
interbreed, which means they are no longer the same species.
This can be seen where different species breed at different times of the year.
Section Summary
Natural selection can result in an adaptation that helps an organism survive.
Natural selection explains how one species changes into another.
Speciation occurs as populations undergo separation, adaptation, and division.
LAB
VERY IMPORTANT: Follow all instructions carefully
If you cannot, you will not participate
Survival of the Chocolates
1. CLEAN YOUR TABLE
2. GET A NAPKIN AND A HANDOUT FROM THE BACK TABLE
3. GET A BAGGIE FROM MS. ASHLEY
4. DO NOT OPEN BAGGIE
5. DO NOT EAT ANYTHING (yet!)
Survival of the Chocolates
Imagine a world populated with candy, and hold that delicious thought in your head for
just a moment. Try to apply the idea of natural selection to a population of candy-coated
chocolates. According to the theory of natural selection, individuals who have favorable
adaptations are more likely to survive. In the species of candy-coated chocolates that
you will study in this experiment, the characteristics of individual chocolates may help
the chocolates survive. Each chocolate is divided by color to represent certain
characteristics. In the table, sort and organize your chocolates and record how many of
each are in each square.
Survival of the Chocolates
Question 1 is going to be your hypothesis.
Complete each question using your own candies.
DO NOT EAT THE CHOCOLATES (yet!)
If you believe that a disaster kills all or part of a specific color, record that in your
answer! Remove the dead organisms from your squares.
Bonus (write the answer at the bottom of the last page):
The population lost members based on what characteristics the different chocolates had. Because
different traits were lost due to all these events, only a few traits remain to be passed on. What is
this called? (Bottlenecking)
Yellow
____
Orange
____
Red
____
Terrestrial, Omnivore,
adapt well to change,
hardest shells in the
population
Amphibious, Carnivore,
strong, do not do well
with change, need
some form of water to
survive
Green
____
Blue
____
Brown
____
Live in trees,
Vulnerable to
predators, Nonmigratory
Terrestrial, herbivore,
vulnerable to predators
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11. How many chocolates are left? _____
12. What percent survived? _________
Remaining # of chocolates
Total # of chocolates
x 100