The Lawrence Hall of Science
The public science center of the University of California, Berkeley.
Open Daily 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Animal Discovery Zone 11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
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Ideas about biological inheritance and adaptation can be a fascinating lens through which to see the diversity of life around us. This activity brings these ideas to life through direct observation and rich discussion and offers students the opportunity to build beginning understandings of complex concepts of adaptations and natural selection.
In this Adaptations Activity — meant to follow the Related and Different and Adaptations Intro — Live! activities—students use the Field Guide to Mating in Flowering Plants and the Field Guide to Mating in Conifers, Ferns, and Mosses to find and explore flowers, seeds, berries, cones, and spores (evidence of plant reproduction), which offer students the opportunity to realize that there are plants mating all around them! A final discussion focuses on advantages and disadvantages of sexual (mating) and asexual (cloning) reproduction.
We want to acknowledge Justice Outside for reviewing this session and supporting us to develop more equitable, inclusive, and culturally relevant instructional materials.
Mating And Cloning PDF