Biology
Name: _________________
Natural Selection Spoons
Per: __
Date: ____________
Introduction
You and your group of people are a population of wild animals. The spoons are food that you need to survive.
In each round of competition, if you don’t get a spoon, YOU DIE! As in all populations, some of you are better
adapted than others simply because of your traits that you inherited from your parents. Before the activity,
you will each draw a card which will describe your inherited traits. As you know, the better adapted you are,
the more fit you are, and the more likely you will survive and reproduce. Good luck!
Genetically Inherited Traits – Circle the trait shown on the card you draw!
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
You possess “average” hunting skills. You must get 4 of a kind before you may grab a spoon. (2 cards
say this)
You possess “below average” hunting skills. You must get 5 of a kind before you may grab a spoon.
You possess “above average” hunting skills. You must get 3 of a kind before you may grab a spoon.
You need 4 of a kind, but you have a mutation which allows you to digest only red cards, so your 4 of a
kind must all be red cards.
You need 4 of a kind, but you have a mutation which has left you without an opposable thumb on your
dominant hand.
You need 4 of a kind, but you are not very strong. You were in a fight with another animal over some
food in which you lost an eye. You must wear an eye patch.
You need 4 of a kind, but you have a mutation which allows you to store food in your body more
efficiently, so you can go without food longer. If you loose one round, keep playing. It takes 2 losses
for you to starve to death.
Predictions BEFORE the game
Apply what you know about natural selection to predict who will win and who will starve first!
Use ONE of these terms in each prediction: adaptation, fitness, or survival of the fittest.
1) Predict who you think will be the winner (which trait): ________________________
Explain your prediction using the bold terms above:
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
2) Predict who will starve to death first: _______________________________________
Explain your prediction using the bold terms above:
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
GAME DIRECTIONS:(different from real “spoons”)
- READ ALL DIRECTIONS BEFORE STARTING!
- The “3, 4, or 5 of a kind” refers to 4 cards of the same value, such as 4
-
Jacks or 2s. When you get the cards you need, grab a spoon.
Place spoons in the center of the table like the spokes of a bicycle wheel. (1 less
spoon than the number of “animals”)
-
Deal five cards to each person, keep them FACE DOWN.
Everybody look at your cards at the same time. If the cards in your hand match the
requirement on the trait card, grab a spoon.
As soon as one player grabs a spoon, all other players should instantly do the same!
If no one can grab on the first deal, the dealer takes another card from the deck,
looks at it, passes it on, or keeps it and passes another card from his/her hand so
that every person always has 5 cards in hand.
The player that does not get a spoon on the first grab dies. Put all but one spoon back
in, collect old cards and deal 5 new cards.
Repeat until only one player survives.
AFTER the game
3) In your own words, describe natural selection (you may look at your notes)
______________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
4) In the spoons game, what symbolizes that animals must compete for limited resources?
_________________________________________________________________
5) In the spoons game, what symbolizes that there is genetic variation in every population?
_______________________________________________________________
6) Which inherited traits gave the players an advantage and were well adapted to survive and compete for
the “food?” Why? _____________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
7) Which inherited traits were not well adapted to survive and compete for the “food?” Why?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
8) You predicted the winner for the game. Was your prediction correct? How does this relate to the
statement “survival of the fittest?” __________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
9) You predicted who would starve to death first. Was your prediction correct? How does this relate to
the statement “survival of the fittest?” ________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
10) The theory of natural selection says that “the most fit will survive and reproduce.” Why is reproduction
such an important part of this theory? ________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________