Natural Selection Simulation

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Submission Information
Authors	Terry Carstensen
Contact Email	carstensen_terry@salkeiz.k12.or.us
School / Organization	Leslie Middle School
Submitted	10/01/25
Updated	10/01/25
Contribution Description
Title	Natural Selection Simulation
Simulations	Natural Selection
Keywords	evolution, natural selection, Natural Selection, Limiting Factor, limiting factor, genetic, genes, heredity, dominate, recessive, survival of the fittest
Description
Level	Middle School
Type	Lab
Subject	Biology
Duration	60 minutes
Answers Included	No
Language	English

	Content Level
Content Standard	K-4	5-8	9-12
Science as Inquiry - A
Physical Science - B
Life Science - C
Earth & Space Science - D
Science & Technology - E
Science in Personal and Social Perspective - F
History and Nature of Science - G

Gold Star contributions are high quality inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines (PDF) and that teachers find useful.

Reason for nomination

What do you think about this activity? How did you use it or change it for your class? Professionally constructive comments welcome.

I really like the questions at the beginning of the activity to help students focus on the goals of the lesson. 10/01/31 Trish Loeblein
I like the activity because the kids can explore different variables. I am limited in how I can implement it because the wolf population does not track with the rabbits in a "natural way" in that high rabbit populations do not trigger a high birthrate for the wolves. It looks to me as if the wolf population is a function (10-20%) of the CURRENT rabbit population, not the previous year's rabbit population. My thinking is that by uncoupling the rabbit = wolf food from wolf food from last season determines # of wolves born I can't seem to reach a carrying capacity. I've only played a bit with the simulation because I am not sure if I will implement it. 13/04/09 Kari Hansen

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