Middle School

Year 10s Take Flight with Natural Selection

This term, our Year 10 Science students have been learning about the fascinating process of natural selection — nd doing it in a fun, hands-on way.  Using everyday tools such as tweezers, tongs and spoons to represent the beaks of different birds, students modelled how certain beak shapes are better suited to specific food sources.

Seed collection showed that not all “bird beaks” were up to the task!  Students quickly discovered which beak types were more likely to help a bird survive and thrive in the wild, and which might leave them going hungry.

The classroom was filled with curiosity, competition and plenty of laughter as students tested their "beaks" and reflected on how adaptations play a role in evolution.  It was a fantastic way to bring textbook science to life — and a great reminder that learning can be both educational and fun.

Dr Bryce Dermody