Ward's® Birds And Worms: Modeling Natural Selection

This simple demonstration of the relationship between adaptations and natural selection gets students away from their desks.

• Students research gene frequency development
• Activity: Imitating Worm-Eating Birds
• Pre- and post-laboratory assessments included
• Material for eight setups
• Estimated lab time; Day One: 45 minutes, Day Two: 45 minutes

Students discover predator-prey relationships, the benefits of camouflage in larger populations, and how these factors affect gene frequencies as they simulate birds that are trying to find food.

The activity contains a teacher’s guide, a student copymaster, and material for eight setups.

Ordering information: This kit includes white, green, orange, blue, and yellow toothpicks, string, plastic bags, a stopwatch, and a tape measure. Calculators and clipboards are needed but not included.