Adaptations and Natural Selection

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Objective

I can analyze how fossil records provide evidence of changes in the number and types of species over generations due to evolution and extinction.

Part 1 of 3

Warm-up video

Unknown Channel · 4:52

We don't generate video — this one is by Unknown Channel on YouTube. The practice questions and exit ticket below were drafted by AI for this objective, and every question is editable in the teacher guide.

Part 2 of 3

Practice

7 questions

1

Describe the concept of "survival of the fittest" as it relates to natural selection, using an example from the video.

2

Explain how a specific trait, like the size of elephant tusks, can become more common in a population over time through natural selection.

Part 3 of 3

Exit ticket

Quick comprehension check

The video describes how faster rabbits are more likely to survive and reproduce in an environment with foxes. If scientists examined fossil records from that region over many generations, what changes in rabbit leg bone structure would they likely observe, and how would this support the idea of evolution? The video explains that male elephants with larger tusks are more likely to win mates and pass on their genes. If scientists studied fossil records of elephants over time, what would they expect to find regarding the average tusk size in earlier versus later fossils, and how would this relate to natural selection? The video discusses how emperor penguin chicks that can tolerate the cold are more likely to survive and reproduce. If scientists analyzed fossil records of emperor penguins from different time periods, what differences in bone density or feather structure might they find that would indicate adaptation to colder temperatures over generations?

Sample answer included in the free materials

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