Later in the lesson, students will use the Mind Maps strategy to create a visual representation of the interconnections that exist among several concepts of natural selection. In the Explore and Explain sections, students will brainstorm ideas that will help them construct their maps. Students will first review the Mind Map Instructions and Brainstorming Document. Next, students will complete a lab, read an article, and watch a video to learn more about the four points of Darwin’s natural selection. As students complete each activity, they will take notes and add their main ideas to the Mind Map Brainstorming Document. Students will begin by participating in a lab that simulates natural selection’s effects on the peppered moth population before and after the Industrial Revolution.
Before presenting this assignment to students, open the Peppered Moth Lab Instructions and Data Sheet and consider whether you will want students to submit a screenshot of their graph for Question #8 in the Analysis section. If so, you may want to make a note of this at the end of the data sheet.
Additionally, if you want proof of work from students for the initial simulation, add in the following note for Step 5 in the Procedure section: After completion of the game, in the space below “Print Summary,” add your first and last name. Click print, but then select to save it as a PDF. You will submit this PDF along with your work.
If you choose to modify the instructions as described above, consider doing so before making copies of the document to provide to students.
The Explore module includes two activities. The following table outlines steps for supporting the activities.
Mind Map Brainstorming Document |
Students will receive a forced copy of the Mind Map Instructions and Brainstorming Document. Before you provide students with a link, you will first need to make your own copy of the document to create an edited version that is specific to your class and your instructional preferences (see note-catcher options described below). Then, you may make copies of that document to provide to students or share a force copy link with them. |
Peppered Moth Lab |
If this assignment will be graded, update the Assignment settings and add a point value. We also recommend adding due dates to the activity. Learn how to update Assignment settings. |