EVOLUTION IMAGINARY CREATURES…..
Could you make the ideal species for an environment? That is the central question to this
quick evolution activity. By combining different adaptations that are favorable for an
environment, the students will be creating an "ideal" species for a given environment.
They can make drawings and write explanations for what their species would look like
and which adaptations they would have for the conditions they blindly draw.
Each student should number their papers 1-5. For each number, they should pick a letter
A-E and write it down. They may repeat letters or not use letters at all (like they can
choose to write the letter "A" next to all 5 numbers if they wish). The teacher will then
read the conditions that correspond to those letters and numbers as follows:
1. Climate: A=Hot and dry (example: desert), B=Hot and rainy (example: tropical
rain forest), C=Moderate temperatures and high rainfall (example: deciduous
forest), D=Moderate temperatures and low rainfall (example: grasslands),
E=Below zero temperatures (example: tundra)
2. Type of Terrain: A=Volcanic islands, B=Swampy, C=Mountains, D=Flatlands,
E=Underground
3. Predators: A=Large birds of prey, B=Humans, C=Cheetahs, D=Wolves, E=Bears
4. Food: A=Fish, B=Leaves of tall plants or trees, C=Roots of plants, D=Fast
running animals, E=Insects
5. Biggest threat to survival: A=Pollution, B=Deforestation, C=Disease, D=Not
producing enough offspring, E=Lack of food or water
Once the students have been given their environments and other information, they must
decide which adaptations would be suitable for those conditions. The more favorable the
adaptation, the more likely the species will survive and reproduce. Then, the students
must somehow show how these adaptations will be apparent on their species. They
should draw their ideal species for the environment and explain what those adaptations
are and why they are desirable for that situation.