Middle School
Adaptations and Survival
Fossil evidence, variation, natural selection, adaptation, and changes in populations over time.
MS-LS4-1, MS-LS4-2, MS-LS4-3, MS-LS4-4, MS-LS4-5, MS-LS4-6
2 lessons
4 quiz questions
Lesson 1: Evidence for Change Over Time
Use fossils, anatomy, and development as evidence.
Learning goals
- Describe fossil evidence.
- Compare similarities among organisms.
- Explain common ancestry using patterns.
Fossil record
Fossils show that many organisms lived in the past and that life on Earth has changed over time.
Similarities
Similar body structures and developmental patterns can provide evidence that organisms share common ancestry.
Lesson 2: Natural Selection
Explain how trait variation affects survival and reproduction.
Learning goals
- Describe variation in populations.
- Explain selection pressures.
- Connect helpful traits to reproductive success.
Variation matters
Individuals in a population vary. Some variations help organisms survive and reproduce in a particular environment.
Adaptations
Over generations, helpful traits can become more common in a population. These inherited traits are adaptations.