Lesson 6
How did anoles evolve stickier feet?
Big Idea: Natural selection is the scientific explanation for how and why animals and plants change over time but it is easy to misunderstand it.
Activity: Students engage with the case of anoles – lizards whose feet have become “stickier” as their rural habitat has become urbanized. Students use a “four-corners” activity where they apply their understanding of natural selection to confront and critique several commonly held but mistaken explanations for the change. They decide if natural selection can successfully explain change over time across three cases–piloses, radishes, anoles.
Materials to Have Ready
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Signs to post in each corner of the classroom: strongly agree, agree, disagree, strongly disagree
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"A Lizard's Tale" video (watch first 5 minutes only): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SYjXFJULNU
Video Overview (1:59)
