Natural Selection By Frank Hudson G311U

Charles Darwin HMS Beagle Brazilian rain forest Galapagos Islands (turtles, finches, etc.)

Darwin’s Theory 1858 presented his and Wallace’s ideas to London published, “The Origin of Species”. Four Principles… (BJ Shaw-PSU-Life Sciences Lectures)

1.Variation exists among individuals within a species. (Poeta, Dale. “Evolution”. 2001)

2. Organisms produce more offspring than the environment can support. (Poeta, Dale. “Evolution”. 2001) Earth population/TURTLES...

3. Competition exists among individuals. (Poeta, Dale. “Evolution”. 2001) Shoppers. Farmers…Animals… more than one slide..

4. Organisms that have traits that allow them to adapt to their environment, have the best chance to reach adulthood and reproduce. (Poeta, Dale. “Evolution”. 2001) Me…

Environmental Changes A species environment has an effect on their traits. Such as Galapagos Island With global climate change – How will this effect the selection of traits among species? Will species adapt or will a new species move in?

How Does Natural Selection help improve an organism’s chance for survival?

Directions Start: Cut out game template. Each strip consists of 5 columns. -Each player rolls 2 dice; highest role picks predator or prey. -Each player begins with 5 organisms that are assigned 1 trait each. -Each strip of paper is placed face down in a straight row. 1. Each player picks an organism from their opponent’s row. 2. Each player rolls 2 dice. 3. If one player rolls doubles than that player wins. And each player must describe circumstances that would cause an automatic win. ie. Winner’s organism had stealth and was able to sneak up without being detected. Or loser’s organism fell and broke a leg.

4. If no doubles are rolled. Than each player adds their total from their own dice and adds that to the number of traits of their selected organism. ie. Die one =2, Die two = 3, one trait … total 2+3+1= Player with highest total wins that round. 6. Losing player removes that organism from play. 7. Each player keeps track of round and reasons each organism won or lost. ie. Winner’s organism had stealth and was able to sneak up without being detected. Or loser’s organism fell and broke a leg. 8. If totals are equal then round is a draw. Reshuffle traits and reselect organisms. Re-roll. 9. Winner gains another organism with 1 trait. 10. This ends the first round. 11. Each player selects one of their own organisms and writes one other trait to that organism (each player thinks of their own trait to add) then each player shuffles their organisms and places the card back, face down. 12. Repeat from step Game continues till one player loses all their organisms. Or players reach a previously set time limit.

Notes: -- Organisms cannot have two of the same traits. -- Game ends after previously set time limit and player with the most organisms wins. If both players are equal than game is a draw; or when one player loses all their organisms then opponent wins. -- Divide students into teams of two. Winner of each team plays winner of another team. Continue till only one winner in class. -- Game allows for predator vs. prey; predator vs. predator; prey vs. prey. -- During play: players discuss why traits help organisms, why organism lost or won each round. ie. Agility trait helps prey turn quickly while running; predator was unable to capture prey because it tripped. -- Possible play… add 1 point for each organism above the original 5 – organisms traveling in pack bonus.

How Does Natural Selection help improve an organism’s chance for survival? With global climate change – How will this effect the selection of traits among species? Will species adapt or will a new species move in?