Unit Plan 34 (Grade 7 Science): Evolution in Action

Focus: Apply evolutionary concepts to modern organisms and environments, using natural selection, artificial selection, and mathematical representations to explain how trait variations affect population survival and adaptation today.

Grade Level: 7

Subject Area: Science (Life Science — Biological Evolution & Society)

Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 50–60 minutes per session

I. Introduction

In this capstone evolution unit, students bring together ideas about natural selection, artificial selection, and math-based evidence to study evolution in action. They explore modern examples like antibiotic resistance, pesticide resistance, urban wildlife adaptation, and selective breeding in agriculture. Students use data tables, percentages, and graphs to show how trait variations affect survival probabilities and how human technologies can speed up or redirect evolutionary change. The unit culminates in an “Evolution in Action” case-study explanation that addresses MS-LS4-4, MS-LS4-5, and MS-LS4-6.

Essential Questions

• How can we see evidence of evolution happening right now in modern organisms and environments?
• How do natural selection and artificial selection each shape traits in populations over time?
• In what ways can mathematical representations (fractions, percentages, graphs) strengthen our explanations about trait variations and survival?
• How do human technologies (medicines, pesticides, breeding programs) influence the direction and speed of evolutionary change?

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:

1. Explain, with evidence, how natural selection leads to adaptation in modern contexts (e.g., resistant pests or bacteria).
2. Gather and synthesize information about technologies that influence artificial selection or evolutionary pressures (e.g., selective breeding, antibiotic use, pesticides).
3. Use mathematical representations (survival rates, trait frequencies, graphs) to show how trait variations impact population survival and long-term adaptation.
4. Compare and connect modern examples of natural selection and artificial selection, describing mechanisms and outcomes.
5. Create an “Evolution in Action” case-study product (poster, one-pager, or written explanation) that integrates qualitative and quantitative evidence aligned to MS-LS4-4–6.

Standards Alignment — 7th Grade (NGSS-based custom)

• MS-LS4-4 — Construct an explanation based on evidence that natural selection leads to adaptation of populations.
• MS-LS4-5 — Gather and synthesize information about the use of technologies that influence artificial selection and the traits of organisms.
• MS-LS4-6 — Use mathematical representations to support explanations of how trait variations affect the probability of survival and population survival.

Success Criteria — Student Language

• I can describe a modern example where natural selection leads to adaptation.
• I can explain how human technologies (like antibiotics or breeding programs) influence which traits become more common.
• I can use fractions, percentages, and graphs to show how different traits affect survival in a population.
• I can connect ideas from natural selection, artificial selection, and math evidence in one clear explanation.
• I can communicate my ideas using the language of variation, selection, adaptation, and population survival.