English National Curriculum - Science
Mission Objectives
Describe the key stages of Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection
Explain the role of mutation in driving change within a species over time
Evaluate the evidence for natural selection
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Words and meanings to learn
natural selection
the process by which individuals with characteristics better suited to their environment survive, reproduce, and pass those characteristics on to their offspring
variation
differences in the characteristics of individuals within a population, caused by mutations and the reshuffling of alleles during sexual reproduction
camouflage
a characteristic that makes an organism harder to detect in its environment, increasing its chances of survival
mutation
a change in the base sequence of DNA, providing the only source of new genetic variation in a population
evolution
the gradual change in the inherited characteristics of a population over time, which may result in the formation of a new species
Handouts
Beak adaption:
Dried pasta
Rice
Raisins
Small beans
Paper clips
Tweezers
Clothes pegs
Teaspoons
Cocktail sticks
Timer (30 seconds per round)
A tray, plate or sheet of paper per group
Moth activity:
Small circles of pale and dark paper (punched out with a hole punch)
Pale sheet of A3 paper (lichen bark background)
Dark sheet of A3 paper (soot-covered bark background)
Expert film
Mission assignment film
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