Evolution Stations Lab

These eight evolution stations focus on how populations change over time and the evidence that supports evolutionary theory. Students explore evolution through hands-on activities, data analysis, card sorts, and more.

This evolution stations activity is a fun way to get students moving, collaborating, and learning in a variety of meaningful ways while reinforcing key concepts about evolution.

Through hands-on stations, students explore natural selection, genetic drift, gene flow, speciation, and multiple lines of evidence for evolution, helping them make sense of how populations change over time.

Perfect as a standalone evolution lesson or as part of my growing biology lab stations bundle – on sale now!

 

Evolution Stations Overview:

• Station 1: Natural Selection & Antibiotic Resistance: Students analyze a graph showing changes in antibiotic-resistant bacteria over time and explain how natural selection causes traits to become more common in a population.

 

• Station 2: Comparative Anatomy: Students sort structure cards into homologous, analogous, and vestigial categories to identify evidence of common ancestry and evolutionary change.

 

• Station 3: Bird Beak Adaptations: Students use different tools to model bird beaks, collect “food,” and determine which beak has the highest fitness in a given environment.

 

• Station 4: Comparative Embryology: Students examine images of vertebrate embryos at different stages of development and identify similarities that support common ancestry.

 

• Station 5: Molecular Biology: Students compare DNA sequences by highlighting matching bases to determine which organisms are most closely related.

 

• Station 6: Patterns of Evolution: Students sort scenario cards to identify patterns of evolution, including divergent evolution, convergent evolution, adaptive radiation, and coevolution.

 

• Station 7: Genetic Drift & Gene Flow: Students use beans to model allele frequencies and observe how random events and migration can change populations over time.

 

• Station 8: Speciation: Students analyze reproductive isolation scenarios and sort them by type to explain how new species can form.

 

 

Minimal Materials & Easy Prep

• With the included teacher’s guide and lesson plan, you will receive a stations overview page with each station’s overview and necessary materials needed to be placed at each station. You do not need station signage because each station card is clearly marked with the station number and name.
• You only need two different colors of dried beans (one bag will work for all classes), two cups, one plate, and three objects to use as beaks (tweezers, plastic spoon, plastic fork, etc.) Everything else is included!

 

Perfect for engaging students before exploring a unit, as a formative check within a unit, or as an in-depth review! Your download includes eight editable stations, editable student handouts, a helpful teacher’s guide, answer key, and a link to the Google Slides version of the activity.

 

Your Evolution Stations Download Includes:

• Evolution Stations Cards (text-editable PPT and PDF)
• Student Answer Sheet (text-editable PPT and PDF)
• Teacher’s Guide and Lesson Plan
• Original Content, Diagrams, Card Sorts, and Activities
• Answer Key
• Google Slides Version of the Activity

 

 

MORE FUN EVOLUTION ACTIVITIES

 

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