AQA B1 Natural Selection: Finches and Zombies

I created this lesson to fill a 45 minute interview lesson a couple of years ago, although this can easily be rolled out to an hour long lesson. The lesson consists of defining natural selection, explaining Darwin's theory of selection. There are two booklets that can be used, one for high ability and one for low ability pupils who state which level they would like to achieve by the end of the lesson.

Darwin's Finches Task:
This consists of creating four of the Galapagos Island's on four different tables. Pupils use the clues about what the finches eat and the size of their beaks to work out which finch lives on which island. For low ability I also use props such as clothes pegs (to represent one of the beaks) and Haribo gummy bears (to represent worms)

Natural Selection Statement Puzzle:
Once pupils have worked out the correct island, we put natural selection statements in the correct order looking at Lamarck's flawed theory of evolution with giraffes.

Zombie Apocalypse:
As an extension activity pupils complete the Zombie Apocalypse task, deciding on who will survive, the Spider people or the Homer Simpsons? A task based on their physical traits.

Pupils can then self assess their progress and their are past exam questions in the presentation for the higher ability students too.

Enjoy....oh and this lesson got me the job :)