Simple Natural Selection Activities to Try Now

Use simple natural selection activities to explain variations in characteristics to your third or fourth grade students. Hands-on projects illustrate how frogs’ traits provide advantages in surviving, finding mates, and reproducing.

Natural Selection Activities

Our favorite third grade teacher sat at the side table with her teaching partner. “Let’s continue planning our life science curriculum,” Ms. Sanchez said. “This year, we have to do a better job teaching NGSS 3-LS4-2.”

Mr. Jones did a quick search on his laptop and read the standard aloud:

Use evidence to construct an explanation for how the variations in characteristics among individuals of the same species may provide advantages in surviving, finding mates, and reproducing.

Ms. Sanchez tapped her pencil on the table. “Wow, do you think we can find any natural selection activities for third graders?”

Once again, Mr. Jones clicked away on his device. “Hey, I think I found something.” He turned his screen toward his co-teacher.

Frog Tongues and Survival

“The first natural selection activities in this set focus on frog tongues. Kids read and then design their own tongues with party horns,” Mr. Jones continued.

“How fun! They figure out where to place a sticky mounting square to catch these paper flies. I get it. Frogs whose tongues are sticky in a special spot will have an advantage in surviving!”

Use a party horn to simulate a frog's tongue in these natural selection activities.

Natural Selection Activities with Frog Eggs

Mr. Jones scrolled a little farther through the resource. “In the next activity,” he said, “kids explore survival of frog eggs. They soak water beads in clear, green, blue, and blue-green water. Then they observe the eggs floating in a “clearwater lake” – both in light and dark conditions.”

Ms. Sanchez grinned. “Another great natural selection activity! Kids conduct an experiment, have some fun, and learn how camouflage increases chances for survival.”

Kids study variations in characteristics of frog eggs to determine which would survive best. This natural selection activity is also an experiment.

Camouflage and Survival

“Speaking of camouflage,” said Mr. Jones, “here’s an activity that shows how adult frogs blend with their surroundings. Kids color one of these frog templates to match a place in the classroom. Then others try to find it.”

“What a simple project,” his partner responded. “The kids will love it.”

In this natural selection activity, kids design frogs that will blend in with a place in the classroom.

Frog Courtship

“For the next natural selection activity, kids read about frog courtship. Then they analyze how the ability to croak, a more attractive scent, and a larger throat sack may affect a frog’s ability to find a mate.”

Ms. Sanchez nodded her head. “I wondered how to handle finding mates with third graders. This reading passage manages it in an age-appropriate way. It also lets us integrate science and ELA.”

Students read about frog courtship to learn about variations that provide advantage in reproduction.

Reinforcing and Assessing Variation in Traits

“Once the kids finish their natural selection activities,” said Mr. Jones, “they view a slideshow that features different species. For example, a giraffe’s long neck helps it reach leaves high in a tree.”

As a culmination to natural selection activities, a slideshow extends understanding of advantages with different species of animals.

“Aha, and two options are also included for assessment,” Ms. Sanchez noted.

Assess student understanding of variation in traits with one of these two quizzes.

Enjoy Teaching Natural Selection

As Ms. Sanchez sat back in his chair, a slow smile spread over her face. “I guess that age-appropriate natural selection activities do exist.”

“Not only that,” her partner replied, “but they’re fun!”

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