Battling Beetles

Resource Type
Description
This activity engages students in learning about the mechanism of evolution by natural selection and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium using candies to represent populations of beetles.
Students begin by making observations about two containers of candies that they are told represent samples of male beetles from two different populations. They then perform an experiment to determine which population has a harder shell. They then use these data to make a claim about which beetles are more likely to survive and reproduce. They then apply these observations to the evolution of rock pocket mice.
In the second part of the activity, students apply the Hardy-Weinberg equation to the beetle populations and learn to use the equation to model selection.
Student Learning Targets
-
Explain how variations in traits in a population may result in the differential survival and reproduction of individuals.
-
Calculate allele frequencies using the Hardy-Weinberg equation.
-
Summarize how the Hardy-Weinberg equation can be used to model selection.
Estimated Time
Key Terms
adaptation, experiment, fitness, frequency, gene pool, homozygous, heterozygous, population, predator, selection coefficient, survival
Terms of Use
Please see the Terms of Use for information on how this resource can be used.
Version History
NGSS (2013)
HS-LS3-1, HS-LS4-2, HS-LS4-3, HS-LS4-4; SEP2, SEP4, SEP5, SEP6
AP Biology (2019)
EVO-1.C, EVO-1.E, EVO-1.H, EVO-1.J, EVO-1.K, EVO-1.L, EVO-1.M, EVO-1.O, IST-2.E, IST-4.A; SP1, SP3, SP4, SP5
IB Biology (2016)
5.2
AP Environmental Science (2020)
Topic(s): 2.1, 2.6
Learning Objectives & Practices: ERT-2.A, ERT-2.H, SP1, SP4, SP5, SP6
IB Environmental Systems and Societies (2017)
3.2
Common Core (2010)
ELA.RST.9–12.3, ELA.RST.9–12.7
Math.A-REI.3, Math.A-REI.5; MP2, MP4
Vision and Change (2009)
CC1; DP1, DP2, DP3