1) Students will play a game where they use different utensils (spoon, spork, fork) as bird beaks to pick up colored beans representing insects. 2) They will test which utensil can gather the most insects. This models how bird beak adaptations lead to more or less success in finding food. 3) The activity aims to demonstrate how environmental pressures and natural selection can drive evolutionary changes in a species over multiple generations as less adapted traits die out.

1. Evolution by Means of Natural Selection Lab
Background
Evolution
Biological evolution accounts for the diversity of species developed through gradual
processes over many generations. Both genetic variation and environmental factors are
causes of
evolution and diversity of organisms. Charles Darwin reached the conclusion that
natural
selection is the mechanism of evolution. The theory of evolution is supported by
evidence from
geology, fossils, and comparative anatomy. Extinction of a species occurs when the
environment
changes and the adaptive characteristics of a species are insufficient for its survival.
Objectives
Trying to use sporks and foon to pick up little beans
representing birds beak.
Hypothesis
The spoon is the most adaptive because it can carry more insects.
The white butterfly is most adaptive because they are more common.
Materials
One spoon
one spork
one fork
white beans
green beans
brown beans
Method
A. Students will be placed in groups of 3
1. “The Bird”
a. Will be given a 60 second interval to gather as many insects as possible.
b. The bird will only use its beak to capture insects.
c. The bird will NOT use its feet (hands) to help pick‐up or transport insects.
d. When the beak is full of insects the bird will fly back to the nest, deposit
the insects, then proceed to gather more insects.
2. “The Nest”
a. The nest does NOT move.
b. The nest holds the insects the bird has gathered.
3. “The Counter”
a. The counter will help separate and count the insects gathered.

2. b. The counter will write down totals for data.
c. The counter will bring the teacher all insects gathered.
B. Groups of birds will be assigned nesting locations around insect dense grasslands.
C. After each gathering, students will change their role in the group. There will be 3
gathering periods so every student will have a chance to be “the bird”.
Analysis
What environmental factors determined how many bugs were captured by each group?
That there was grass and what the area was.
Give two types of evidence for evolution.
How does genetics fit into evolution.
Include five new words and their definitions that you learned during this evolution unit.
Conclusion
Who was Charles Darwin?
He was the one who introduced natural selection and evolution
Why is Darwin so important to biology?
helped us figure out about evolution and that it takes a really long time.
Why are animals so different?
Animals are different because they have different traits or they adapt for where they live.
Did the data support or reject your hypotheses? Explain for each hypothesis.
The data shows that yes the spoon is the most adaptive and that the white butterfly is
the most common.