MS - LS4.C (0) - Adaptation by Natural Selection - FINAL (WND)

Module: Adaptation by Natural Selection

DCI: LS4.C (0) Adaptation by natural selection acting over generations is one important process by which species change over time in response to changes in environmental conditions. Traits that support successful survival and reproduction in the new environment become more common; those that do not become less common. Thus, the distribution of trains in a population changes.

PE: MS-LS4-6 Use mathematical representations to support explanations of how natural selection may lead to increases and decreases of specific traits in populations over time.

 [Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on using mathematical models, probability statements, and proportional reasoning to support explanations of trends in changes to populations over time.] [Assessment Boundary: Assessment does not include Hardy Weinberg calculations.]

The ideas in this standard are: 

- natural selection acts over several generation

- natural selection is an important process by which species change over time 

- species change in response to changes in environmental conditions

- traits that help an organism survive and reproduce in the new environment become more common

- those traits that do not help an organism become less common 

- The distribution of traits in a population changes

So kids are supposed to use mathematical representations (which really apparently means probability and proportions) to explain why populations have changed over time.