The Future of Evolution A lesson that puts the topic of evolution into the hands of your fourth through eighth grade students
By Christen Lubbers Evolution: the process by which different kinds of living
organisms are thought to have developed and diversified from earlier forms during the history of the earth” – The Oxford Dictionary.
ary, for example, is a broad, simplified definition that only scratches the surface of the theory. The theory of evolution seeks to explain why and how organisms change over time and is accomplished by genetic variations, mutation, genetic drift, natural selection, and/or descent.1 Charles Darwin is most notably credited for theorizing evolution. He was a naturalist that observed species who were visibly or physi- cally similar. Minor differences in individuals native to dif- ferent islands have variations which help them to survive in the unique demands of the different geographic areas. Darwin noticed these patterns throughout the many species he encountered during his travels and terms the process by which this would occur natural selection. Natural selection thus means that reproduction would involve individuals with favorable traits, leading to evolutionary change.
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ANY INDIVIDUALS AND organizations have tried to define evolution in a simple way. The definition above, as found in the Oxford Diction-
The activity included in this article is a great way to lead
students through the process of natural selection in a hands- on lesson. It will allow students to use creativity while researching a species they are interested in learning more about. I have found this lesson to be successful with my stu- dents, and encourage you to try it out with your grade four through grade eight students. The traits that are selected for through natural selection
are called adaptations, which are traits or behaviors that help organisms survive in their habitats. When organisms have variations between individuals, the variations with the best likelihood for survival will be selected for through natu- ral selection. If a species is somehow separated into two groups (maybe a road is placed in the middle of their habi- tat and they can’t travel to the other side – although it does not always have to be a physical separation) and each group adapts to the demands of the different habitats through favor- able variations, it could lead to speciation. These individual groups are no longer able to reproduce with one another. With climate change occurring at a faster rate than ever
before, organisms are left in a wake of increased weather events, drought, melting ice, rising sea levels, and an increase in temperature, among other hardships.2 In addition to these, deforestation is a global issue, eliminating habitats that organisms rely on. For these organisms to survive, they must be able to adapt to their changing environments.
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Photographs: Christen Lubbers
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