Lesson 29 of 84 · Evolution
Experiment⭐ 30 XPThe Fossil Record and Evolution (Part 2)
Evolution.
🎯 Your mission
Set it up. Test it. Be amazed.
⚡ The twist
Nature loves to surprise the careful watcher.
Mind = Blown
🔬 The more you look, the more nature shows you.
Make a hypothesis first
Before you start: write down what you think will happen, and why.
What You'll Learn
The fossil record provides evidence for evolution by showing how organisms have changed over time. Transitional fossils show features of both ancestral and descendant species.
Key Words
- dominant
- recessive
- mutation
Materials Needed
- onion skin
- iodine stain
- paper
- colored pencils
Safety First
- Wash hands after handling materials.
- Be careful with scissors — ask an adult for help if needed.
Steps
Study the diagram and label the parts you recognize.
Extract DNA from a strawberry using dish soap, salt, water, and rubbing alcohol. Observe the stringy white substance—that's DNA!
Use your senses (except taste) to describe what you notice.
Write a summary of your findings in 3-5 sentences.
Check Your Understanding
Question 1
1 of 3What provides evidence for evolution?
Where you see this in real life
This shows up in your everyday life more than you'd think.
Stretch Challenge
Try this in real life this week.
Try one experiment in real life this week — even a tiny one.
For the dinner table
“What's the most surprising thing you learned today?”
Next Smart Experiment
We'll pick an experiment that matches exactly how you're thinking right now.
Share this experiment
Send it to a parent who's looking for a 10-minute kitchen science win.
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