1. Human Variation

2. Let’s Review…
Human Variation refers to the study of the physical differences and similarities of existing humans.

3. Think-Pair-Share:
Why do you think humans are different from one another?

4. A Scientific Explanation:
In On the Origin of the Species (1859), Charles Darwin outlined how every living thing evolves through natural selection. Natural selection involves three principles:
Variation: every species has a lot of variety within it.
Heritability: individuals pass on traits to their offspring.
Environmental fitness: individuals who are better adapted to their environment will produce more offspring and pass on their traits to the next generation.

5. A Christian Explanation:
Christian anthropology emphasizes that humans were made in the image and likeness of God.
Human diversity is a good thing according to Christians.
Though no two humans are the same, each person has value and worth.
Every person reflects the image of God in a slightly different way.
God blessed each person with different talents and abilities and expects each person to serve Him using the unique set of talents that he or she received.

6. A Couple Things To Remember:
The concept of race is socially constructed.
More genetic variation exists within races than between them.

7. Video: “Race – the Power of an Illusion”

8. Think-Pair-Share:
Why do some people make assumptions about other people based on physical differences?

9. What Would You Do if You Found Yourself in the Following Situation?

10. Source
Social Sciences: An Introduction. Canada: McGraw-Hill Ryerson, 2011, p