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Natural Selection Simulation

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Natural Selection Simulation

Evolution and natural selection illustration

🧬 Part 1: Simulation Instructions

Materials: Coloured beans (red, green, blue), environment cards, recording sheet

Setup: Your group starts with 20 beans representing a population (7 red, 7 green, 6 blue). Each colour represents a different trait.

Simulation Steps:

1. Draw an environment card to determine which trait survives best this generation

2. Remove beans based on the environmental pressure (teacher will explain survival rates)

3. Surviving beans "reproduce" - add more beans of the surviving colours

4. Record your population data below

5. Repeat for 5 generations

Generation Data Recording:
Generation 1: Red _____ Green _____ Blue _____ Total _____
Generation 2: Red _____ Green _____ Blue _____ Total _____
Generation 3: Red _____ Green _____ Blue _____ Total _____
Generation 4: Red _____ Green _____ Blue _____ Total _____
Generation 5: Red _____ Green _____ Blue _____ Total _____

📊 Part 2: Analysis Questions

1. Which colour trait became most common in your population by Generation 5?
2. Explain why this trait became more common using the concept of natural selection.
3. What would happen if the environment suddenly changed? Circle the best answer:

The population would stay exactly the same

Different traits might become more successful

All traits would disappear immediately

The population would double in size

4. Compare your results with another group. How were they similar or different?

🤔 Part 3: Real-World Connections

5. Give one example of a human trait that might have been shaped by natural selection:
6. Explain how "survival of the fittest" relates to your simulation results:
7. True or False: Check all statements that are correct about natural selection:

Individuals with helpful traits are more likely to survive

Traits that help survival become more common over time

All individuals in a population are exactly the same

Environmental changes can affect which traits are successful

8. Reflection: How does this simulation help you understand evolution? Write 2-3 sentences.

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