Skip to Main Content
PhET Home Page
University of Colorado
Created 3/29/16. Updates available online.

Browse Activities

Natural Selection Lab A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines.



Title Natural Selection Lab
Description
Subject Biology
Level High School
Type Lab
Duration 60 minutes
Answers Included No
Language English
Keywords natural selection, pedigree
Simulation(s) Natural Selection

Author(s) Melissa Savage
Contact Email msavage@ghchs.com
School / Organization Granada Hills Charter High School
Date submitted 3/13/11
Date updated 3/13/11

Comments

I'm going to try this activity in my class this week. I'm so glad that you uploaded it because I've been struggling to create some type of lab format to accompany the simulation. I haven't yet decided how I'm going to modify it, although I'm certain that I will change it slightly. I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks! Adrienne Jones   3/29/11

I don't think the hypothesis should have the "because" part. You test one specific cause and effect relationship with a hypothesis. "If I change ____ in ___ specific way, I expect to see ____ change in ___ specific way." I tell my students to keep it simple and don't explain their choice using the word "because", because that is typically too hard to prove and would involve doing multiple experimentation. This is a slight modification to what you have, but overall good job. They can explain the because part in an analysis question. Sarah Berard   1/25/12

I like the because as it identifies their thinking or reasoning for the choices they have made. Karen Dorsey   2/16/12

I like the activity because the kids can explore different variables. I am limited in how I can implement it because the wolf population does not track with the rabbits in a "natural way" in that high rabbit populations do not trigger a high birthrate for the wolves. It looks to me as if the wolf population is a function (10-20%) of the CURRENT rabbit population, not the previous year's rabbit population. My thinking is that by uncoupling the rabbit = wolf food from wolf food from last season determines # of wolves born I can't seem to reach a carrying capacity. I've only played a bit with the simulation because I am not sure if I will implement it. Kari Hansen   4/9/13

Comment on this activity

How did you use this activity or change it for your class? Answer keys are often not available because the activities are inquiry based and lead to multiple answers. Professionally constructive comments welcome.

©2016 University of Colorado.
Some rights reserved.