61

Lesson 61 of 84 ยท Evolution

Experimentโญ 30 XP

Genes and Traits (Part 4)

๐ŸงชLab Brief #61

Evolution.

๐ŸŽฏ Your mission

Predict it first. Then prove yourself right (or wrong).

โšก The twist

Nature loves to surprise the careful watcher.

๐Ÿคฏ

Mind = Blown

๐Ÿ”ฌ The more you look, the more nature shows you.

๐Ÿ”ฎ

Make a hypothesis first

Before you start: write down what you think will happen, and why.

What You'll Learn

Natural selection is the process where organisms with traits better suited to their environment survive and reproduce more successfully. Over time, this drives evolution.

Key Words

  • DNA
  • gene
  • chromosome

Materials Needed

  • coins (for Punnett squares)
  • tape
  • index cards

Safety First

  • Handle glass items carefully to avoid breakage.
  • Do not mix unknown chemicals together.

Steps

Step 1 โ€” Read

Review the background information on Evolution before starting.

Step 2 โ€” Do

Survey your class for a genetic trait (attached vs. free earlobes, tongue rolling, hitchhiker's thumb). Create a bar graph of the results.

Step 3 โ€” Observe

Look for patterns in your observations.

Step 4 โ€” Record

Make a graph or chart showing your results.

Check Your Understanding

Question 1

1 of 3

What is natural selection?

๐ŸŒ

Where you see this in real life

This shows up in your everyday life more than you'd think.

๐Ÿ†

Stretch Challenge

Try this in real life this week.

Try one experiment in real life this week โ€” even a tiny one.

๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ‘ง

For the dinner table

โ€œWhat's the most surprising thing you learned today?โ€

๐ŸŽฏ

Next Smart Experiment

We'll pick an experiment that matches exactly how you're thinking right now.

๐ŸงฒShare card

Share this experiment

Send it to a parent who's looking for a 10-minute kitchen science win.

๐Ÿ–จ๏ธ

Checkout complete lesson on Evolution for 8th Grade

Get the full Evolution track as a printable PDF โ€” all lessons, worksheets, and answer keys.

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