Evolution is the process by which living things change over time.

An adaptation is a feature of a plant or animal that helps them to survive in their habitat.

A science communicator's job is to share science information with the general public.

To communicate is to share or exchange information or ideas.

Information that is accessible can be understood by lots of people.

Evolution: presentation

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

Charles Darwin and finches

Plant adaptations

More about plant adaptations

The survival of the fittest

Evolution: evidence

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

Subjects which particular individuals may be sensitive to, eg, adoption, migration, bereavement or death, divorce, poverty, deprivation.

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

The process by which living things change gradually over many generations.

The changes a plant or animal goes through during their lifetime.

Animals change their physical characteristics and become new species.

Humans have created all of the different species.

New species are created with every generation of offspring.

Many different species have evolved over time.

Why is there such a huge variety of living things on our planet?

A person whose job it is to present science information to the general public is called a science ...

Information shared by science communicators should be …

Because they want as many people as possible to understand it.

Because they want very few people to understand it.

Why do science communicators present their findings in a clear and interesting way?

A podcast where he explains what he found out.

A booklet with photographs and information.

A photograph of him carrying out research.

A magazine article with easy-to-read paragraphs.

Alex has carried out some research about the evolution of giraffes. Which of these would not be a good way to communicate his findings?

To move something from one place to another.

What does it mean to communicate something?

A type of home an animal builds in its habitat.

A characteristic that a living thing chooses to have.

A feature of a living thing that helps it to survive in its habitat.

Polar bears and penguins have many adaptations that help them to survive in very cold environments. What is an adaptation?

Which adaptation would help to prevent a plant from being eaten?

Which adaptation would help an animal to survive in a very hot habitat?

Living things that can survive in many different habitats.

Living things that are better adapted to their habitat.

Living things that are the most physically fit.

According to Darwin's theory which describes ‘survival of the fittest', which living things are more likely to survive and reproduce more than others?

Evolution happens gradually over many generations.

Evolution can happen rapidly over a single generation of a species.

Evolution only happens in animals that give birth to live young.

Evolution can occur in all living things.

Which of these statements about evolution are correct?

Evolution: presentation

Lesson outcome

Content guidance