Darwin’s Theory & Natural Selection

Guided Notes, Causes of Natural Selection Foldable, Lotus Vocab/Main Idea Chart, & Circle Map

By: Jessica Smith

Darwin’s Theory Guided Notes

Charles Darwin set sail on the _____________________________ in December 1831 to learn about _______________________________________________________________________________. Darwin’s Observations 1.  Diversity:

2.  Fossils:

Glue  into  notebook  here!  

Galapagos Organisms

Galapagos Organisms S. American Organisms

         

Darwin noticed difference among organisms on the islands. For example: Adaptation:

Seed eaters: Insect eaters:

Evolution: Selective Breeding:

Natural Selection:        

Darwin’s Theory

Darwin’s Journey Darwin’s Observations Galapagos Organisms

Organism Comparisons Natural Selection

Selective Breeding Evolution Adaptations

Charles Darwin

Natural  Selection  

Natural Selection Circle Map  

Cut  and  Throw  Away  

Cut  and  Throw  Away  

Overproduction

Variations

Selection

Environment

Competition Genes

Answer Key &

Suggestions for Use

Darwin’s Theory Teacher Notes

Charles Darwin set sail on the HMS Beagle in December 1831 to learn about plants and animals in other parts of the world. Darwin’s Observations 1.  Diversity: (Different) Darwin observed much diversity of organisms in different parts of the world. 2. Fossils: Preserved remains of an organism that lived in the past. Fossils gave Darwin evidence of living things changing over time.

I have students trace Darwin’s route with a highlighter

Galapagos Organisms

Galapagos Organisms S. American Organisms

Example:  Iguanas  had  larger  claws  to  cling  to  slippery  rocks  to  eat  seaweed.  

Iguanas  had  smaller  claws  to  climb  trees  &  eat  

leaves.    

Darwin noticed difference among organisms on the islands. For example: Some tortoises had dome shaped shells while others had saddle shaped shells. Adaptation: A trait that helps an organism survive & reproduce.

Seed eaters: Wide, strong beaks to Break seeds Insect eaters: Narrow, needle-like beaks to get insects.

Evolution: A gradual change over time *Darwin saw evidence that species changed over Time. Selective Breeding: Breeding to get a desirable trait.

Natural Selection: The process by which individuals that are

better adapted to an environment will survive – “survival of the fittest”

       

OverproducCon  

VariaCons  Genes  

SelecCon  

CompeCCon  Environmental  Change  

Darwin’s Journey Darwin’s Observations Galapagos Organisms

Organism Comparisons Natural Selection

Selective Breeding Evolution Adaptations

This could be used in class, for homework, or as a warm up. Students can define, explain or

draw a picture!

Darwin took a journey On the HMS Beagle to Examine different

Organisms & noticed how different they Are from species he was familiar with.

Galapagos organisms were unlike Any he’d ever seen! -  Giant Tortoises

-  Iguanas -  Birds

Darwin observed how diverse living things Are.

He also studied fossils and other characteristics Of organisms on the islands.

The process by which Individuals that are better

Adapted to their environment are More likely to survive & reproduce.

Organisms on the Galapagos Islands Were very similar to the mainland, but had

Differences. For example, the iguanas Had large claws the cling to slippery

Rocks. And tortoise shells varied. Some were Dome shape while others were saddle shaped.

Breeding to get a desirable trait.

For example, breeding a fast horse and A strong horse gives you a fast, strong

Horse.

A gradual change in species over time.

Darwin hypothesized that organisms (finches, iguanas, etc.) changed To survive their environment.

•  A trait that helps organisms survive & reproduce.

Example: Darwin’s finches had different beaks to help them eat seeds and

insects.

Natural  Selection  

Natural Selection Circle Map – Teacher Guide  

The outside circle is for words Associated with natural selection

Examples: evolution,

overpopulation, selection, genetics, adaptations, competition,

etc.

Higher level thinking connections belong on the outside square. Give students a questions using the main ideas in the circle to

help them APPLY their knowledge. For Example:

-  How does overpopulation cause natural selection?

-  How did Darwin’s discoveries spark what we know now?

-  What is your opinion of natural selection?

-  Do we have any evidence of natural selection we can see

in our current year?

Cut  and  Throw  Away  

Cut  and  Throw  Away  

Overproduction

Variations

Selection

Environment Change

Competition Genes

Suggestions for Use

This foldable can be used to explain the different causes of natural selection.

Overproduction: Too many of one species will cause some to die off (not enough food, predators).

Variations: Differences amongst species make some individuals more “fit” to survive than others.

Competition: For food, shelter, mates, etc. Selection: The environment “selects” who lives and who dies depending

on their traits. Environment Change: Factors such as climate change and soil can

effect which organisms and plants survive in a given area. Genes: Depending on the traits passed down from parent to offspring,

some genes are more suitable for survival than others.

On the opposite side of this foldable, students write “Causes of Natural Selection” in this top

portion.