Summary
In this lesson, students will learn about the concepts of evolution and natural selection through playing Perfect Strain, a digital game-based learning (DGBL) module. The DGBL module allows them to explore and apply the concepts they are learning within an interactive world using artificial selection to see the effects of selection pressures such as mutations and evolutionary adaptation.
Essential Question(s)
How do environmental forces change a species?
Snapshot
Engage
Students watch the "What is Natural Selection?" video, then discuss it in pairs and share out.
Explore
Students play the first two missions of Perfect Strain to explore the concepts of evolution and natural selection.
Explain
Students use the Concept Card Mapping strategy to learn more about the relations between the concepts they've learned so far.
Extend
Students play the third mission of Perfect Strain to continue exploring and applying the concepts they have learned about evolution.
Evaluate
Students use the Human Scatter Graph strategy to demonstrate learning.
Materials
Lesson Slides (attached)
Concept Cards (attached; one set per small group)
Game Portal Guide (attached)
Perfect Strain Teacher’s Guide DGBL (attached)
Chart Paper
Engage
20 Minute(s)
Use the attached Lesson Slides to facilitate the lesson. Display slide 2 to introduce the lesson topic. Use slides 3–4 to go over the essential question and lesson objectives. Move to slide 5. Instruct students to take notes on things they found interesting or surprising as they watch the "What is Natural Selection?" video.
This video is nine minutes long and introduces many of the concepts that students will be further exposed to as they begin playing the Perfect Strain DGBL module.
Display slide 6 and ask students to pair up to discuss the video. Then, ask each pair to share out their takeaways with the rest of the class.
Explore
50 Minute(s)
Move to slide 7 and introduce them to the DGBL module Perfect Strain. Ask students to navigate to the K20 Center Game Portal and login to have them play through the first two missions, which should take roughly 30 minutes. You do not need to give them further instruction here. The game will introduce them to its mechanics, concepts, and story. At this point, take time to walk around the room, observing students’ progress and helping students who are confused or stuck.
Explain
30 Minute(s)
Move to slide 8 and ask students to set aside their devices for the time being. Introduce students to the Concept Card Mapping strategy to allow students to review what they've learned and go into deeper explanations of the concepts.
Divide your class into small groups and give each group a set of the attached Concept Cards. Then have them build a concept map using the cards. Once all the concept maps are complete, discuss them as a class. Record the connections students make on a piece of chart paper to build a whole-class concept map.
Extend
40 Minute(s)
Move to slide 9. Ask students to return to the Perfect Strain game and play the third mission. This module is more difficult than the first two, and you can expect it to take at least 30 minutes for them to play through it.
Evaluate
40 Minute(s)
Display slide 10 and introduce students to the Human Scatter Graph strategy. Label two perpendicular walls in your classroom to be the x-axis and the y-axis.The y-axis should be labeled with sections called A, B, and C. These will be choices for the students later on in the activity, so leave enough room for multiple students to stand in the same area. Label the side of the x-axis that is closest to the y-axis "low confidence" and the side that's farthest away from the y-axis "high confidence." Use slides 11–22 to present the students with the question and answers. Before revealing the answer, ask students to justify their answer with the class.
Resources
K20 Center. (n.d.). Concept card mapping. Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/123
K20 Center. (n.d.). Human scatter graph. Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/172
K20 Center. (2020, November 9). Perfect strain [Game]. Authentic Lessons for 21st Century Learning. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/game/1035
Stated Clearly. (2013). What is natural selection? [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SCjhI86grU
