Situated Cognition Enhances Mathematical Approaches to Natural/Artificial Selection

The words evolution and statistics can both evoke negative reactions from students and impede their likelihood of understanding these important subjects. We have developed a number of collaborative, integrated activities that combine both topics in familiar contexts. Instead of the often outdated, classic textbook examples, these ideas are more relevant to current students. Manipulatives reduce the degree of abstraction and make measures of central tendency & variation that are used to explain directional, stabilizing, & disruptive selection more evident. Lessons can be modified to differentiate instruction or meet different gradelevel standards in both mathematics and science.