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Variations in the Clam Species Clamys sweetus

Topic
  • Evolution
  • Natural Selection
  • Science Practices
  • Models & Simulations
Resource Type
  • Activities
  • Labs & Demos
Level
High School — General
Favorited By
3 Users
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Description

This activity engages students in learning about the mechanism of natural selection using candies to represent individuals of a species of clam.

Students begin by making observations about two containers of candies that they are told represent individuals from two strains of a species of clam. They then perform an experiment to determine which “strain” has a harder shell and graph the data. They then use these data to make a claim about which “strain” is more likely to survive in the presence of an arthropod that can eat a clam by crushing its shell. At the end of the activity, they examine several statements about natural selection and identify the one most likely to be accurate.

Student Learning Targets
  • Construct a bar graph using class data from an experiment.

  • Design an experiment to test a hypothesis about the differential survival of individuals in a population.

  • Explain how variations in traits in a population may result in the differential survival of individuals.

  • Explain the role of natural selection in evolution.

Details
Estimated Time
Three 50-minute class periods.
Key Terms

adaptation, dependent variable, experiment, fitness, frequency, graph, independent variable, predator, survival

Terms of Use

The resource is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International license. No rights are granted to use HHMI’s or BioInteractive’s names or logos independent from this Resource or in any derivative works.

Version History
Date Published 03.07.05
Curriculum Connections
NGSS (2013)

HS-LS4-2, HS-LS4-3, HS-LS4-4; SEP1, SEP2, SEP3, SEP6

AP Biology (2019)

EVO-1.C, EVO-1.E, EVO-1.H, EVO-1.J, EVO-1.O, SYI-3.D; SP1, SP2, SP3, SP4, SP6

IB Biology (2016)

5.2

AP Environmental Science (2013)

II.C

IB Environmental Systems and Societies (2017)

3.2

Common Core (2010)

ELA.RST.9–12.3, ELA.RST.9–12.7
Math.S-ID.3; MP2, MP4

Vision and Change (2009)

CC1; DP1, DP2, DP3

Materials
Student Handout (PDF) 295 KB
Teacher Materials (PDF) 255 KB
Clamys sweetus (PPT) 311 KB
Additional Materials
  • M&M’s and Reese’s Pieces candies

  • colored pencils

  • rulers

  • waste containers

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