Frank Hudson
G311U
26 February 2009
Inquiry-based education allows students to ‘answer a question’ about the world around them.
Question:
How does Natural Selection help improve an organism’s chance for survival?
With global climate change – How will this effect the selection of traits among species? Will species adapt or will new species move in?
Prey
Agility Vision Camouflage Speed Endurance
Speed Endurance Teeth Stealth Smell
Predator

Directions
Start : Cut out game template. Each strip consists of 5 columns.
Each player rolls 2 dice; highest role picks predator or prey.
Each player begins with 5 organisms that are assigned 1 trait each.
Each strip of paper is placed face down in a straight row.
1. Each player picks an organism from their opponent’s row.
2. Each player rolls 2 dice.
3. If one player rolls doubles than that player wins.
And each player must describe circumstances that would cause an automatic win. ie. Winner’s organism had stealth and was able to sneak up without being detected. Or loser’s organism fell and broke a leg.
4. If no doubles are rolled. Than each player adds their total from their own dice and adds that to the number of traits of their selected organism.
ie. Die one =2, Die two = 3, one trait … total 2+3+1= 6.
5. Player with highest total wins that round.
6. Losing player removes that organism from play.
7. Each player keeps track of round and reasons each organism won or lost. ie. Winner’s organism had stealth and was able to sneak up without being detected. Or loser’s organism fell and broke a leg.
8. If totals are equal then round is a draw. Reshuffle traits and reselect organisms. Re-roll.
9. Winner gains another organism with 1 trait.
10. This ends the first round.
11. Each player selects one of their own organisms and writes one other trait to that organism (each player thinks of their own trait to add) then each player shuffles their organisms and places the card back, face down.
12. Repeat from step 1.
13. Game continues till one player loses all their organisms. Or players reach a previously set time limit.
Notes:
-- Organisms cannot have two of the same traits.
-- Game ends after previously set time limit and player with the most organisms wins. If both players are equal than game is a draw; or when one player loses all their organisms then opponent wins.
-- Divide students into teams of two. Winner of each team plays winner of another team.
Continue till only one winner in class.
-- Game allows for predator vs. prey; predator vs. predator; prey vs. prey.
-- During play: players discuss why traits help organisms, why organism lost or won each round. ie. Agility trait helps prey turn quickly while running; predator was unable to capture prey because it tripped.
-- Possible play… add 1 point for each organism above the original 5 – organisms traveling in pack bonus.

Assignment :
Write (more than one paragraph) your own opinion about: Does Natural Selection help improve an organism’s chance for survival?
Goals:
Students will demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of Natural Selection.
1. Students will tell who Darwin and Wallace are.
2. Students will describe the four aspects of Natural Selection.
3. Students will be able to discuss their thoughts on when Natural Selection helps an organism and when it does not help an organism.
Benchmarks:
6.2 LS.2 Analyze how organisms within ecosystems compete for resources, including food, space, water, air, and shelter.
7.1.LS.2 Distinguish between inherited and learned traits, explain how inherited traits are passed from generation to generation, and describe the relationships among phenotype, genotype, chromosomes, and genes.
7.2.ES.2 Evaluate factors that affect global environmental change and suggest and evaluate possible solutions to problems.
8.1.LS.1 Explain how organisms from both the past and the present are classified based on their genetics and their internal and external structures. Describe how scientists use classification systems to show relationships among organisms
8.2.LS.1 Explain how populations in an ecosystem interact and how changes in populations are related to available resources.
8.2.LS.2 Explain how natural selection is a mechanism for biological evolution and describe evidence for evolution in living things.
8.2.ES.3 Evaluate how human activities have changed Earth’s land, oceans and atmosphere.
Materials and Cost:
Handouts: Game pieces/ rules---School copier
Pencils------------------------------Students supply
Dice---------------------------------32 dice for $5.95
Times :
Presentation-----------------------10min
Set-up/ Directions-----------------5 min
Game play--------------------------25 min
Review/ Quiz-----------------------10