Teddy Grahams and Natural Selection

Summary

Students will model natural selection and how that has an impact on population size.

Materials

• student worksheet
• several boxes of Teddy Grahams
• paper towels
• one plastic bag per group
• one die per group

Student Prior Knowledge

Make sure the students know the three conditions needed for natural selection to occur. 1. Population must be limited in size, creating competition. 2. Genetic variation must exist. 3. Variations must affect reproductive success. Students need to know genetics and how punnett squares work. Tell the students that the Teddy Grahams can be eaten, but only after the lab is complete

Instructional Procedures

1. Read the story of the Teddy Grahams (on the student worksheet) as a class before handing out the Teddy Grahams.
2. Have the students make a hypothesis as to what will happen to the population of the bears and why after the story has been read.
3. Hand out Teddy Grahams to each group of students on a paper towel. A handful will be sufficient. Also hand out one plastic bag and one die to each group.
4. When lab is complete have students finish the results and conclusions as a group and then come back as a class and talk about what has happened.

Bibliography

Lesson Design by Jordan School District Teachers and Staff.