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Evolution Activities for Kids

Teaching children evolutionary science is vital to their understanding of biology. It provides a foundation on which all future biological studies are based. Evolution can be a tricky subject, and with so many dissenting voices, it's best to explain as early as possible the scientific view of the development of living organisms.
  1. Demonstrate Evolution

    • Have your students create an exercise that demonstrates evolution in a non-biological way. For instance, have them see if they can change one word into another by changing one letter at a time, such as changing "walk" into "talk" into "tall" into "fall." This gradual change represents how genetics change slightly over time to create a new organism. Similar exercises can be performed using shapes or colors instead of words, for instance changing one angle or color tone at a time.

    Check In With Charlie's Playhouse

    • Charlie's Playhouse, a company primarily dedicated to teaching children evolutionary science, provides toys, games and contests focused on evolution. Its chief product is a giant time line play mat that doubles as a simple introductory book. The company's website also provide a variety of fun links meant to inspire young scientists.

    Create a Creature

    • Allow your students to imagine their own creature. Have them design and draw its every aspect, such as the animal's skin, size, habits, habitat and diet. Then, ask your students to explain their creation's evolution. For instance, a student who creates a creature with a long, giraffe-like neck might explain that his creature eats from tall trees; the creator of a creature with opposable toes could explain that his creature would be particularly adapt at climbing, and why this was necessary.

    Dinosaurs and Birds

    • A still controversial idea in evolutionary science is the notion that modern-day birds evolved from dinosaurs. Provide your students with skeletal diagrams of a chicken and a Tyrannosaurus Rex, and ask them to discuss whether they agree with that hypothesis and why or why not.

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