Home > Teaching Evolution Search Glossary Home Site Index
Fundamentals Concepts to Lessons Search for Lessons
K-2 lessons 3-5 lessons 6-8 lessons 9-12 lessons
Search the evolution
lesson database

Grade level(s):
K-2     3-5
6-8     9-12

Lesson topic:

Keyword(s):

Includes words from the lesson content, title, or description.

Focus on the Fundamentals

When teaching natural or artificial selection, you can remember the essential requirements for selection with the handy acronym V.I.S.T.



 V = Variation: All life forms vary genetically within a population. It is this genetic variation upon which selection works.


I = Inheritance: Genetic traits are inherited from parents and are passed on to offspring.


S = Selection: Organisms with traits that are favorable to their survival get to live and pass on their genes to the next generation.
T = Time: Evolution takes time. Evolution can happen in a few generations, but major change, such as speciation, often takes long periods of time.

Click on the grade span links to view the V.I.S.T. fundamentals appropriate for your students: K-2 | 3-5 | 6-8 | 9-12

Nature of Science
The door to gaining understanding about the world is open for students who have a fundamental understanding of the nature of science.

Now think of what you would like your students to know – on to The Concepts.
Concepts

Search · Site Index · Navigation · Copyright · Credits · Contact
Understanding Evolution For Teachers Home · Understanding Evolution Home

Read how others have recognized the Understanding Evolution website

Spanish translation of Understanding Evolution For Teachers from the Spanish Society of Evolutionary Biology.