Go-Lab activity in Israel – lesson in a biology class (10th grade) about the importance of natural and sexual selection processes in understanding the evolution using the online laboratory “Sexual Selection in Guppies” and the ILSs platform. The activity was conducted and shared with Go-Lab by Ms. Stella Magid, biology teacher of a secondary school in Tel-Aviv. Thank you, Stella!

1. :Inquiry SpaceAdaptation and use of
Is it Good to be Beautiful -
Understanding Evolution through
Natural and Sexual Selection
STELLA MAGID
ISRAEL

2. Description:
The framework of the biology activity which is suggested on inquiry space contains
both psychological and social aspects.
As well as aspects as sexual education and gender issues were added to the activity.
In addition to inquiry skills, making decision skills were added to the activity.
Moreover ,special attention was given to the comparison between human beings and
animals with an emphasis on the evolution theory .
Inquiry space activity and virtual lab activity were followed by students web based
inquiry process with multidisciplinary topics that appeared in the activity (math,
biology, gender stereotypes, stereotypes of beauty….)

3. Description:
This inquiry activity teaches students about the importance of
natural and sexual selection processes in understanding
evolution. It allows students to conduct scientific experiments
using the online laboratory Sexual Selection in Guppies and
collect & analyze data just like the biologist John Endler did when
he first investigated the balance of natural and sexual selection
in guppy fish in the 1970s. Students work through an inquiry
cycle model and acquire scientific investigative skills that actual
biologists and other scientists apply when making discoveries
and investigating new phenomena.

4. Target audience: thirty 10th grade students (biology class)
Place of the activity: Secondary school in Tel-Aviv, Israel
Duration of the activity: six academic hours
The activity was adapted and taught by Stella Magid,
STEM and biology teacher

5. Lesson 1
Orientation
Students did the activity that is suggested in an inquiry space:
• Watching videos about natural & sexual selection
• Had a classroom discussion about advantages and
disadvantages of beauty (adding their ideal of beauty on a
common canvas)
• building a concept map to connect the ideas about 'beautiful'
characteristics in humans.

6. Lesson 1
Orientation

7. Lesson 2
Adaptive activity: How does external appearance affect one’s character and
behavior?
• Students inquired what other people think about their character and
behavior without considering their external appearance (They put masks
for this reason)
• Students prepared a list of character traits that they would like their future
life partners to have.
• Students discussed the differences in choosing mates between humans
and animals, which conclusion was that animals choose based on natural
instincts whereas in humans these choices are affected by biological and
chemical factors (hormones and pheromones), geometry ( symmetry of
the body) and various psychological affects both conscious and
subconscious.

8. Lesson 2
Adaptive activity: How does external appearance affect one’s
character and behavior?

9. Lesson 3-4
Conceptualization and investigation
Introduction to Guppy Experiments and Virtual Laboratory Sexual
Selection in Guppies (with the use of Experiment Design Tool ,
Observation Tool & reflection tool).
 During this activity student’s aim in the Investigation phase is to
gather evidence, to answer research questions and confirm or
disconfirm their hypotheses. At the end of Virtual lab activity
student wrote their reflection about the learning process.

10. Lesson 3-4
Conceptualisation and investigation

11. We have enjoyed the experience of the online
lab, studied more about evolutional process,
while we are taking in consideration the
terms in each step.
Our conclusion from this experiment is that
there is balance in nature and that the
number of the Guppy fish balances after the
experiment it still stays balanced.
Yael and Gideon

12. Lesson 5-6
Adaptive activity : Further web investigation
Students were divided to small groups and each group investigated one of the
topics that they chose, based on the previous step of activity. Each group
prepared power point slides with the results of their investigation.
Examples for inquiry topic:
• Symmetry and beauty (based on Leonardo De Vinci painting the Monalisa and
“Golden ratio” in math). Student found a way to check a face’s symmetry with
their mobile phones.
• Women in Science (based on psychological stereotypes about women’s & men’s
traits and characters)
• *Next slides present the conclusions reached by the students

13. Stereotypes about women in science have
been around for many years, and in 2015
they still exist. As young ladies, we think
that it’s absurd that women scientist are still
being overlooked by men and even by other
women.
We believe that it’s time for society to stop
generalizing how women work as scientists
and start appreciate them just as much as
men. Slide of Y.Gadot-Yarden, D.Faust,
M.Robina, D.Doron

14. Barbara McClintock was a cytogeneticist who worked in the 20th century
and had contributed a lot to modern science. Her work was
groundbreaking; she developed the technique for visualizing maize
chromosomes and used microscopic analysis todemonstrate many
fundamental genetic ideas. She was a very appreciated scientist and won
a Nobel Prize in 1983 for her work.
Slide of M. Robina
and D.Doron

15. We think the Golden ratio is very
important for our every day life.
The Golden ratio define a lot of
our culture .
However we think that the
Golden ratio not defining beauty
like the mathematicians think .
we think its all in the eyes of the
viewer and anyone can be
attracted to anyone and both the
hormones and the Golden ratio
theory are just a side affect that
might help you choose who you
attract to.
We believe people choose who
they attract with by their
feelings.