3 - LS4.B - Survival of the Fittest

Module: Survival of the Fittest

DCI: LS4.B Natural Selection – Sometimes the differences in characteristics between individuals of the same species provide advantages in surviving, finding mates, and reproducing.

PE: 3-LS4-2 Use evidence to construct an explanation for how the variations in characteristics among individuals of the same species may provide advantages in surviving, finding mates, and reproducing.

 [Clarification Statement: Examples of cause and effect relationships could be plants that have larger thorns than other plants may be less likely to be eaten by predators; and, animals that have better camouflage coloration than other animals may be more likely to survive and therefore more likely to leave offspring.]

The ideas in this standard are: 

- Differences in the characteristics of individuals of the same species can provide advantages in surviving. 

- Differences in the characteristics of individuals of the same species can provide advantages in finding mates. 

- Differences in the characteristics of individuals of the same species can provide advantages in reproducing. 

We have done a few like this before, where we are asking kids to use evidence to support some scientific explanation.  We can ask a basic question about how differences in the characteristics from one individual to the next may be related to certain survival advantages, but we should concentrate on the PE mostly. 

This batch can cover both plant and animal species.  

Possible Question Starters: 

"Students grow two kinds of flowering plants in a school garden. 

(Picture of roses with thorns and then another plant with large leaves).

 After a few weeks, the students saw that many (plant 2) had been eaten by animals. 

Which is the best reason why the animals did not eat plant 1?"

--Obviously, this needs work.  This is just a rough draft of an idea for a question.