Natural Selection & Traits Activities for Middle School Science
This Natural Selection 5E Lesson helps middle school students explore how genetic traits change over time. Aligned with NGSS standards, it includes editable presentations, worksheets, assessments, and student-choice projects, available in both digital and print formats, with key materials translated into Spanish. The lesson follows the 5E Model, featuring word wall cards and discussions for engagement, a student-led station lab with nine interactive activities for exploration, and editable PowerPoints and note-taking templates for explanation. Students extend learning through choice projects, while assessments and review worksheets provide evaluation. Designed for both in-person and virtual learning, this resource ensures accessibility for all students. The resources below will give students a comprehensive understanding of natural selection and traits. All of the following materials are also included in the Kesler Science Membership.
The Kesler Science Natural Selection 5E Lesson is a comprehensive middle school unit focused on identifying changes in genetic traits over time. It includes editable presentations, worksheets, assessments, and student-choice projects, all designed for differentiated, student-led learning. The unit aligns with NGSS standards and offers multimodal resources in both digital and printable formats, including Spanish translations for key materials.
The lesson follows the 5E Model with engaging activities for each phase. The engagement section provides word wall cards and class discussion ideas. In exploration, a student-led station lab offers nine differentiated stations, including hands-on demos, reading passages, research activities, videos, and interactive tasks. Explanation materials include editable PowerPoints, interactive notebooks, and note-taking templates. Students extend learning through choice projects in the elaboration phase, while evaluation features STAAR-aligned assessments and review worksheets.
This flexible resource is designed for both in-person and virtual learning, ensuring accessibility for all students.
The Kesler Science Natural Selection 5E Lesson is a comprehensive middle school unit focused on identifying changes in genetic traits over time. It includes editable presentations, worksheets, assessments, and student-choice projects, all designed for differentiated, student-led learning. The unit aligns with NGSS standards and offers multimodal resources in both digital and printable formats, including Spanish translations for key materials.
The lesson follows the 5E Model with engaging activities for each phase. The engagement section provides word wall cards and class discussion ideas. In exploration, a student-led station lab offers nine differentiated stations, including hands-on demos, reading passages, research activities, videos, and interactive tasks. Explanation materials include editable PowerPoints, interactive notebooks, and note-taking templates. Students extend learning through choice projects in the elaboration phase, while evaluation features STAAR-aligned assessments and review worksheets.
This flexible resource is designed for both in-person and virtual learning, ensuring accessibility for all students.
Engage your middle school students in an interactive exploration of natural selection with this student-led station lab. This modular activity allows students to investigate and compare the characteristics of natural selection through hands-on tasks, readings, videos, and research-based activities. With a student-centered approach, learners take control of their own discovery process while teachers facilitate and support their progress.
The station lab includes nine engaging stations that provide both input and output activities. Students explore new concepts through hands-on demonstrations, research tasks, short readings, and videos. They then demonstrate their understanding by organizing information, illustrating models, writing responses, and completing assessments. A challenge station offers extension activities, while differentiated reading passages in English and Spanish ensure accessibility for all learners.
Designed for both in-class and virtual learning, this comprehensive resource requires minimal prep time while maximizing student engagement. The structured yet flexible format supports independent and small-group learning, fostering critical thinking and deeper comprehension. Whether used in a traditional classroom or an online setting, this station lab provides an immersive and dynamic way to teach natural selection.
Engage your middle school students in an interactive exploration of natural selection with this student-led station lab. This modular activity allows students to investigate and compare the characteristics of natural selection through hands-on tasks, readings, videos, and research-based activities. With a student-centered approach, learners take control of their own discovery process while teachers facilitate and support their progress.
The station lab includes nine engaging stations that provide both input and output activities. Students explore new concepts through hands-on demonstrations, research tasks, short readings, and videos. They then demonstrate their understanding by organizing information, illustrating models, writing responses, and completing assessments. A challenge station offers extension activities, while differentiated reading passages in English and Spanish ensure accessibility for all learners.
Designed for both in-class and virtual learning, this comprehensive resource requires minimal prep time while maximizing student engagement. The structured yet flexible format supports independent and small-group learning, fostering critical thinking and deeper comprehension. Whether used in a traditional classroom or an online setting, this station lab provides an immersive and dynamic way to teach natural selection.
The Natural Selection Student Choice Projects align with NGSS standards, allowing middle school students to choose a project that fits their preferred output style. A project page outlines six student-led options plus a “design your own” project, all with an editable rubric for teacher, peer, or self-assessment.
These flexible, multimodal projects provide creative ways for students to demonstrate their understanding. Two versions of the project page support differentiation, with modified options for students needing remediation and challenge options for advanced learners. Teachers can adjust the rubric to fit grading needs.
The projects use standard classroom supplies like paper, markers, and scissors, and many options are available for digital completion.
The Natural Selection Student Choice Projects align with NGSS standards, allowing middle school students to choose a project that fits their preferred output style. A project page outlines six student-led options plus a “design your own” project, all with an editable rubric for teacher, peer, or self-assessment.
These flexible, multimodal projects provide creative ways for students to demonstrate their understanding. Two versions of the project page support differentiation, with modified options for students needing remediation and challenge options for advanced learners. Teachers can adjust the rubric to fit grading needs.
The projects use standard classroom supplies like paper, markers, and scissors, and many options are available for digital completion.
The Variations in Populations Inquiry Lab aligns with NGSS standards MS-LS1-5 and MS-LS4-6, guiding students to model natural selection through a hands-on or virtual experiment. Students simulate a population of bunnies with fur variations, exploring how environmental and genetic factors influence trait frequency over time.
This lab includes both a digital and print format, offering flexibility for different classroom settings. The digital version features an interactive PowerPoint compatible with Google Slides, including a pre-recorded demonstration for students to follow along. The print version provides a structured hands-on experience where students manipulate beans to represent allele frequencies in a rabbit population.
Differentiation is built into three levels: dependent (guided inquiry with procedural support), modified (structured with sentence stems and multiple-choice questions), and independent (student-led with minimal guidance). Comprehension questions, Claim-Evidence-Reasoning (C.E.R.) prompts, and reflection sections support student learning.
Editable teacher resources include answer keys, standards, objectives, estimated prep time, and materials lists. The lab is designed for multimodal learning, offering a flexible, engaging way to explore natural selection concepts in middle school science.
The Variations in Populations Inquiry Lab aligns with NGSS standards MS-LS1-5 and MS-LS4-6, guiding students to model natural selection through a hands-on or virtual experiment. Students simulate a population of bunnies with fur variations, exploring how environmental and genetic factors influence trait frequency over time.
This lab includes both a digital and print format, offering flexibility for different classroom settings. The digital version features an interactive PowerPoint compatible with Google Slides, including a pre-recorded demonstration for students to follow along. The print version provides a structured hands-on experience where students manipulate beans to represent allele frequencies in a rabbit population.
Differentiation is built into three levels: dependent (guided inquiry with procedural support), modified (structured with sentence stems and multiple-choice questions), and independent (student-led with minimal guidance). Comprehension questions, Claim-Evidence-Reasoning (C.E.R.) prompts, and reflection sections support student learning.
Editable teacher resources include answer keys, standards, objectives, estimated prep time, and materials lists. The lab is designed for multimodal learning, offering a flexible, engaging way to explore natural selection concepts in middle school science.
This Effects of Natural Selection Science Reading Comprehension Lesson helps students explore how traits in populations change over time due to natural selection. Designed for middle school, the leveled passage supports science literacy and reading comprehension.
Students read a nonfiction article about natural selection, answer five to seven comprehension questions, and design a game demonstrating how organisms blend into their environment to escape predators. The resource includes a hands-on mini-project, a Cornell notes template, and engaging visuals that print well in grayscale.
Perfect for sub plans, extra credit, ISS, or whole-class instruction, this resource fosters critical thinking, classroom discussions, and textual analysis. It is compatible with Google Classroom, MS Teams, Schoology, and Canvas, allowing for both in-person and virtual learning.
This Effects of Natural Selection Science Reading Comprehension Lesson helps students explore how traits in populations change over time due to natural selection. Designed for middle school, the leveled passage supports science literacy and reading comprehension.
Students read a nonfiction article about natural selection, answer five to seven comprehension questions, and design a game demonstrating how organisms blend into their environment to escape predators. The resource includes a hands-on mini-project, a Cornell notes template, and engaging visuals that print well in grayscale.
Perfect for sub plans, extra credit, ISS, or whole-class instruction, this resource fosters critical thinking, classroom discussions, and textual analysis. It is compatible with Google Classroom, MS Teams, Schoology, and Canvas, allowing for both in-person and virtual learning.
The Human Impact on Natural Selection Science Writing Prompt Activity engages middle school students in a creative newspaper article exercise to assess their understanding of life science. Aligned with MS LS4-6, this activity supports science reasoning and exploration while offering both in-person and virtual learning options.
This resource includes teacher directions with an answer guide, project ideas, and rubrics. It offers projection and print handouts, including full-sized and half-sheet versions, along with a digital PowerPoint format compatible with Google Slides. Ideal for cross-curricular activities, pre-test assessments, student choice projects, early finisher enrichment, extra credit, make-up work, and differentiation, this writing prompt fosters engagement and critical thinking. Designed as a review tool, it assumes students have prior knowledge or access to research materials.
The Human Impact on Natural Selection Science Writing Prompt Activity engages middle school students in a creative newspaper article exercise to assess their understanding of life science. Aligned with MS LS4-6, this activity supports science reasoning and exploration while offering both in-person and virtual learning options.
This resource includes teacher directions with an answer guide, project ideas, and rubrics. It offers projection and print handouts, including full-sized and half-sheet versions, along with a digital PowerPoint format compatible with Google Slides. Ideal for cross-curricular activities, pre-test assessments, student choice projects, early finisher enrichment, extra credit, make-up work, and differentiation, this writing prompt fosters engagement and critical thinking. Designed as a review tool, it assumes students have prior knowledge or access to research materials.
The WIKI Tickets© Structure of Life Set offers 24 formative assessments designed for 6th-8th grade science, providing flexible and engaging ways to check student understanding. Each topic is available in five formats: a full-screen projection version, three printable handout sizes, and an interactive digital version compatible with PowerPoint and Google Slides.
Aligned with NGSS and TEKS standards, these assessments cover essential life science topics such as cell function, CRISPR, environmental genetic factors, heredity, reproduction, levels of cellular organization, and genetic mutations. A bonus table of contents file is included to show standard alignment. These WIKI Tickets© can be used for in-person or virtual learning, making them versatile for any classroom setting. Students can respond on paper, digitally, or in a remote 1:1 environment. Use them as exit tickets, bellringers, or quick checks to assess student progress effectively.
The WIKI Tickets© Structure of Life Set offers 24 formative assessments designed for 6th-8th grade science, providing flexible and engaging ways to check student understanding. Each topic is available in five formats: a full-screen projection version, three printable handout sizes, and an interactive digital version compatible with PowerPoint and Google Slides.
Aligned with NGSS and TEKS standards, these assessments cover essential life science topics such as cell function, CRISPR, environmental genetic factors, heredity, reproduction, levels of cellular organization, and genetic mutations. A bonus table of contents file is included to show standard alignment. These WIKI Tickets© can be used for in-person or virtual learning, making them versatile for any classroom setting. Students can respond on paper, digitally, or in a remote 1:1 environment. Use them as exit tickets, bellringers, or quick checks to assess student progress effectively.
Lesson Extensions provide engaging, student-choice activities designed to challenge early finishers and deepen their understanding of life science concepts. These activities help reinforce critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving while keeping students engaged with rigorous yet enjoyable learning opportunities. They are ideal for lesson wrap-ups, independent challenges, and filling downtime during testing.
Each extension includes four interactive components: Puzzler for problem-solving, Maker Space for hands-on STEAM activities, Tech Connection for digital demonstrations, and Word Master for creative writing. With teacher directions, answer keys, and both print and projection versions, these extensions support flexible learning and enrichment.
Covering topics such as artificial selection, body systems, cell functions, genetic variations, heredity, and natural selection, Lesson Extensions align with NGSS and TEKS science standards, ensuring meaningful connections to curriculum goals.
Lesson Extensions provide engaging, student-choice activities designed to challenge early finishers and deepen their understanding of life science concepts. These activities help reinforce critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving while keeping students engaged with rigorous yet enjoyable learning opportunities. They are ideal for lesson wrap-ups, independent challenges, and filling downtime during testing.
Each extension includes four interactive components: Puzzler for problem-solving, Maker Space for hands-on STEAM activities, Tech Connection for digital demonstrations, and Word Master for creative writing. With teacher directions, answer keys, and both print and projection versions, these extensions support flexible learning and enrichment.
Covering topics such as artificial selection, body systems, cell functions, genetic variations, heredity, and natural selection, Lesson Extensions align with NGSS and TEKS science standards, ensuring meaningful connections to curriculum goals.
This Amazing Anchors Phenomenon Lesson introduces natural selection through the real-world example of genetic trait changes in Florida lizard species. It includes an introductory reading with comprehension and extension questions to build student understanding, followed by an explanatory reading that breaks down the science behind natural selection with additional reinforcement questions.
This NGSS-aligned, no-prep resource includes teacher directions, answer keys, projection slides, editable digital versions for LMS platforms, and printable full- and half-sheet handouts. A modified version provides differentiated support with sentence starters for comprehension questions. Designed to bookend a lesson, these engaging readings serve as effective supplements for the Engagement and Elaborate segments of 5E lessons in both in-person and digital classrooms.
This Amazing Anchors Phenomenon Lesson introduces natural selection through the real-world example of genetic trait changes in Florida lizard species. It includes an introductory reading with comprehension and extension questions to build student understanding, followed by an explanatory reading that breaks down the science behind natural selection with additional reinforcement questions.
This NGSS-aligned, no-prep resource includes teacher directions, answer keys, projection slides, editable digital versions for LMS platforms, and printable full- and half-sheet handouts. A modified version provides differentiated support with sentence starters for comprehension questions. Designed to bookend a lesson, these engaging readings serve as effective supplements for the Engagement and Elaborate segments of 5E lessons in both in-person and digital classrooms.
Year-Round Resources
These year-round activities will increase your students' understanding of many middle school science topics. All of these activities are also included in the Kesler Science Membership.
Visual Data & Graphing
You're not alone if your students struggle with understanding graphs, charts, and tables. It's a skill that takes an enormous amount of practice. This resource will help students build a strong foundation in analyzing data and creating their own data visualizations.
Bell Ringers and Warm-Ups
These middle school science bell ringers are an excellent way to engage your students as soon as they walk into your classroom. This comprehensive FULL YEAR resource includes everything you need to start off each science class with an interesting warm-up activity.
Review Board Games
Each game board has been carefully designed to keep students engaged. There are 10 different action spaces on each board and dozens of question cards. All of the actions are related to science concepts and keep the students motivated throughout the game.
Each game is ready to play. Simply print out the board and the cards and let the students enjoy reviewing nine different units.
Essential Questions and Standards
Below are the essential questions and standards associated with the lessons and activities included in the natural selection and traits unit. This topic is only one of more than 100 middle school science topics included in the Kesler Science Membership.
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How can you identify changes in genetic traits over several generations?
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What are the differences between natural selection and selective breeding?
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NGSS - MS-LS4-6 Natural Selection & Traits
Kesler Science Membership
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