Charles Darwin was an English scientist who studied nature.

We make observations when we look closely at something and use other senses, too.

A species is a group of animals or plants that are similar and can have babies together.

A finch is a type of small bird with a short beak.

A species that is well suited to its environment has adaptations that help it survive there.

Charles Darwin and finches

Science

Where fossils are found (non-statutory)

What fossils can tell us about the past

How living things have changed over time

Human skulls: using evidence from the past (non-statutory)

Offspring: similar but not identical

Family trees (non-statutory)

Inherited characteristics

Animal adaptations

Plant adaptations

More about plant adaptations

The survival of the fittest

Evolution: evidence

Evolution: presentation

In this Evolution and inheritance unit, pupils learn that, normally, offspring vary and are not identical to parents. In the Heredity and DNA unit, they will build on this knowledge to learn about how genes and chromosomes work. 

In the New life unit, pupils learnt that animals, including humans have offspring which grow into adults. In this Evolution and Inheritance unit, pupils will build on this knowledge to recognise that living things produce offspring of the same kind, but normally offspring vary and are not identical to parents

This unit explores how living things have changed over time, using fossils as evidence of past life. It covers how offspring vary from parents and how adaptation leads to evolution. Emphasis is on planning scientific enquiries, recording data, and evaluating scientific evidence.

Evolution and inheritance

Physical activity and equipment requiring safe use

Use of equipment that may require supervision for safety, e.g. scissors in KS1, needles, paint, knives, cooking.

Charles {{}} was a scientist born in 1809 who studied nature. His ideas about how living things adapt to suit their environments changed people’s ideas.

In 1831, Darwin and others set sail on HMS Beagle to study the plants and animals living on the coasts of which continent?

What was the name of the group of islands where Darwin noticed differences in species of tortoises and finches?

While he was investigating nature on the Galápagos Islands, Darwin made many __________ that led him to wonder how new species develop.

They were all best suited to the type of weather on each island.

They were all best suited to escape the type of predators hunting on each island

They were all best suited to the types of food available on each island.

What did Darwin notice about the beak shapes of finches living on different Galápagos Islands?

adapted to the available food sources over many generations.

flown to the island with the best food source for their beak.

chosen to grow a beak in a shape that was best for the available food source.

Which of these statements best describes Darwin’s theory about why the birds on each island had differently shaped beaks? He thought the birds had ...

a body of land surrounded by other countries

changes to outward appearance such as hair styles and clothing.

special features that help living things to survive in their habitats.

the food sources of a particular living thing.

the way a living thing moves around its habitat.

A __________ is all of a species born and living around the same time.

Charles Darwin and finches

Lesson outcome

Content guidance