This Science video introduces teachers to how pupils can use their knowledge of variation, inheritance, and adaptation to understand natural selection and the theory of evolution. Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace proposed that traits helping an organism survive or reproduce are more likely to be passed on, as nature “selects” the best adapted to compete for resources.

This Science video introduces teachers to an investigation modelling Charles Darwin’s observations of finch beaks in the Galapagos. Pupils use tweezers and fingers as beaks and rice as food, timing how much can be transferred between containers in ten seconds.

This Science video introduces teachers to the concepts of variation, inheritance, and adaptation, and how these factors affect survival. Variation is the difference between individuals of the same species, caused by the environment, genetics, or a combination of both. Environmental variation, such as accents, injuries, or hobbies, is influenced by lifestyle and surroundings and cannot be passed on to offspring.