A Lesson on Evolution & Natural Selection (Inquiry & Investigation) (Report‪)‬

Evolution by means of natural selection is regarded as one of the most significant scientific theories ever elucidated. In his book On the Origin of Species, Charles Darwin (1859) proposed this mechanism to explain how life has changed over geological time and how new species emerge from common ancestors. The following activities model evolution and natural selection using simple materials available to most classrooms. Scientists routinely use models to simulate or approximate complex systems, evaluate hypotheses, and explore theories. Models are invaluable when controlled experiments cannot be done. For example, mathematical models are used to predict complex global and local weather patterns. Without such models, weather prediction would be less reliable. The model used here is intended to introduce and facilitate understanding of evolution and natural selection.