Natural Selection Complete Lesson Plan - MS

Everything you need for an engaging, low-prep middle school life science unit on natural selection and selective breeding is included in this editable lesson package! With ready-to-use presentations, worksheets, student-choice projects, and assessments, this multiday lesson helps students explore how genetic traits change over time while supporting diverse learning styles.

Essential Questions

• How can you identify changes in genetic traits over several generations?

• What are the differences between natural selection and selective breeding?

Texas Teachers: Aligned with 2017 TEKS (not updated for the 2021 TEKS).

What Makes This Lesson Stand Out

• Differentiated materials for multiple learning needs

• Multimodal activities to engage every student

• Maximum flexibility – printable or digital

• Editable PowerPoints to customize instruction

• Spanish translations for vocabulary, reading passages, and notebook pages

Built on the research-based 5E Model (Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate), this lesson blends hands-on exploration with digital learning tools to promote inquiry and mastery.

What’s Included

Engagement

• Objectives and Word Wall Cards (English & Spanish)

• Teacher guide with discussion prompts, misconceptions, and activities

Exploration – Student-Led Station Lab

Nine differentiated stations designed for independent or small-group learning:

Input Stations – Build understanding through multimodal learning

• Explore It! – Hands-on demo or digital simulation

• Read It! – Differentiated reading passages (English & Spanish)

• Research It! – Interactive web-based activities

• Watch It! – Short video with comprehension questions

Output Stations – Demonstrate mastery through active learning

• Organize It! – Printable or digital card sorts

• Write It! – Open-ended response questions

• Illustrate It! – Visual modeling to enhance recall

• Assess It! – Task cards and paragraph-based application

Bonus Station – Challenge It!
Extra activities for early finishers, including games, crosswords, and mini-projects.

Explanation

• Editable PowerPoints (standard & interactive versions)

• Interactive notebook templates (print & digital, English & Spanish)

• Note-taking templates for guided instruction

Elaboration

• Student-choice projects on natural selection and selective breeding

Evaluation

• STAAR 2.0–aligned assessment questions (standard & modified)

• Review worksheets for discussion, practice, or homework

Perfect for In-Class or Virtual Learning

Every component—PowerPoints, INBs, and station labs—is designed for print or digital use through Google Slides or PowerPoint, making this lesson easy to implement in any setting.

This is a finished product; it will be updated with formatting or corrections as needed. Future improvements and new features will be sold as a separate product.