MS-LS4-6 Natural Selection Lab

Description

MS-LS4-6 Natural Selection Lab Preview

SNAPs Lab Stations Activities require students to use science, math, literacy, problem-solving and engineering skills. They are designed to enhance students’ understanding of scientific concepts and help students apply scientific ideas to the real world. Each station activity promotes skills so to develop students into proficient and competent scientific thinkers.

SNAPs lab activities have five components:
• Science Skills Station to develop science skill proficiency
• Narrative Station to build science literacy
• Assessment Station to evaluate learning and understanding
• Problem-Solving Station to foster engineering design
• Synthesis Station and Project to inspire higher-order learning

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DIGITAL LABORATORY – DISTANCE LEARNING & DIGITAL CLASSROOMS
• This lab is offered in a digital format to support digital classrooms & distance learning.
• The digital lab activity is designed to work with Google Slides and Microsoft PowerPoint
• The digital lab activity CANNOT be edited. However:
– Students can manipulate text boxes
– Students can create tables, graphs and diagrams
– Students can insert images and drawings

GOOGLE FORM ASSESSMENT STATION
• The assessment station is offered as a self-grading Google Form.
• Questions are all short answer and are 100% editable.
• Suggestions for use are included in the download.

DISTANCE LEARNING COMPATIBILITY
SNAPs lab activities are rated for their ease with distance – independent learning. Refer to the preview for more information about how well this laboratory works in a fully digital classroom and with distance learning.

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EDITABLE DOCUMENTS
This download includes an editable word document (docx file) of all lab components:
• Pre-Lab and Post-Lab Activities
• The Lab Overview
• Lab Station Activities and Questions
• Directed Synthesis Project (when applicable)

Important Notes:
• Diagrams, illustrations, tables and graphs essential to lab activities are included
• Illustrative clipart is NOT included
• Editable documents and rubrics are included with the FREE SNAPs Setup Guide

Editable files allow you to:
• Edit the scope of the activities so to suit your students’ needs
• Edit the materials required based on resource availability
• Create single-period “mini-labs” using activities at the individual skills stations

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The activities at each station in this lab are detailed below.

Natural Selection Lab Stations Activity Learning Objectives
1. Discuss the theory of evolution by natural selection.
2. Describe how the frequency of traits in a population changes due to natural selection.
3. Conduct an investigation to simulate competition for resources and the process of natural selection.
4. Analyze and interpret data in tables and graphs to support explanations of natural selection and changes in traits in a population over time.
5. Apply concepts relating to adaptations and natural selection so to design, build and test a tool that allows for survival and reproduction.

Science Skills Station
Students will conduct an investigation to study how adaptations improve the ability of some individuals to compete, survive and reproduce while suppressing others’ ability to compete, survive and reproduce. Students will compete with each other for food using a feeding tool. They will interpret and analyze data to determine which tool is the best and worst adapted for feeding.

Narrative Station
Students will read a passage about Charles Darwin and the tenants of this theory of evolution by natural selection. Students will also watch a video about common myths and misconceptions about evolution.

Assessment Station
At this station, students will answer questions about key terms and ideas relating to natural selection. Students must employ lower, mid and higher order thinking skills to answer these questions.

Problem-Solving Station
Students will design, build and test a device that mimics a beak and can feed on a wide range of food items. Students will be provided with materials from which to construct the feeding device. Students will test the device on several different food items to see how well it eats different kinds of food.

Synthesis Station
Students will compose a CER (claim-evidence-reasoning) report to summarize the lab. Students are provided the claim statement and must support the claim with observations, data and other information gathered in the lab. Students will explain how the evidence supports the claim using scientific reasoning.

Synthesis Station
Students will compose a CER (claim-evidence-reasoning) report to summarize the lab. Students are provided the claim statement and must support the claim with observations, data and other information gathered in the lab. Students will explain how the evidence supports the claim using scientific reasoning.

Synthesis Project
Students will have a choice of 11 projects. Refer to the SNAPs Lab Stations Best Practices and Setup Guide for directions and suggestions on how to conduct the project.

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This download includes:
• A pre-lab assignment and post-lab reflection
• Directions and questions for each lab station
• Student recording sheets
• Teacher Key

Additional Materials Required:
Computer or tablet
Lima beans (or like large beans) (2 cups)
Rice (1 cup)
Spoon
Small Hair Tweezer
Large Cooking Tongs
5 Aluminum tins (9 x 9 square or round)
7 Small containers
2 Stopwatches
Tin foil
Cardboard or cardstock
Rubber bands
Straws
Pipe cleaners
Craft sticks (popsicle sticks)
Tape
Scissors

LINKS TO VIDEOS
This laboratory requires internet to access videos. Videos are hosted on SafeShare.TV so to safely watch and share educational YouTube videos without ads, comments and other distractions. Shortened and full link(s) to SafeShare.TV included. Full link to original YouTube video(s) included.

NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS
This laboratory satisfies NGSS MS-LS4-6 and supplements MS-LS4-4. It combines the three dimensions of science learning – science and engineering practices, disciplinary core ideas and crosscutting concepts – to meet the standard. This lab also makes interdisciplinary connections to STEM, Math CCSS and ELA CCSS to build the appropriate skills.

TERMS OF USE
• All rights reserved by Stephanie Elkowitz.
• This product is to be used by the original purchaser only.
• Intended for classroom and personal use only.
• Copying for more than one teacher, classroom, department, school, or school system is prohibited.
• This product may not be distributed or displayed digitally for public view.
• Failure to comply is a copyright infringement and a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).