This worksheet was modified from the HHMI Activity on color variation in the rock pocket mouse. It has been simplified from the original activity so that it is suitable for beginner biology students.
Students look at cards showing light and dark mice on different substrates. (Cards can be printed and laminated for multiple uses.) Students collect data on the number of mice phenotypes in each location and develop a hypothesis about the order of the cards. Students also graph the color differences at each location to show how the dark variation increased over time in response to an environmental change. Students then watch the HHMI Video on pocket mice and answer discussion questions.
Throughout the activity, students learn concepts such as fitness, natural selection, mutation, and phenotype.
Grade Level: 8-10 | Time Required: 45-60 minutes
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HS-LS4-1 Communicate scientific information that common ancestry and biological evolution are supported by multiple lines of empirical evidence
HS- LS4-2 Construct an explanation based on evidence that the process of evolution primarily results from four factors: (1) the potential for a species to increase in number, (2) the heritable genetic variation of individuals in a species due to mutation and sexual reproduction, (3) competition for limited resources, and (4) the proliferation of those organisms that are better able to survive and reproduce in the environment
ace
where are the answers
Admin
I don’t post answers, but I will share them with teachers through a school email address that I can verify.
Will Swanson
I’d love to have a general idea of the expected outcomes for the questions. I am planning on using this in my classroom and there are two other collaborating teachers. Thank you for responding with a “key of sorts”
Heather
How can we contact you to get the answers sent to a teacher?
Admin
I don’t have the answers to this handy, just on scratch paper somewhere in a folder at school. We are on break now, though I think you’ll find that it’s fairly easy to work out the order of the mice. I basically shortened the activity from http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/developing-explanation-mouse-fur-color which does have educator materials explaining what is happening.
MusicLens
Great web site. Plenty of useful information here. I am sending it to a few friends ans also sharing in delicious. And obviously, thanks for your sweat!
Shuanglin Jiate
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https://www.zbiz.org/raynen/
It really a great and helpful piece of information. I glad that you shared this helpful info with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thank you for sharing.
Mark Trice
I would like the answer key if possible. Thank you in advance!
Admin
I adapted this activity from HHMI. If you go to their page and click on educator materials, the answers and further explanation will be in that document. https://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/color-variation-over-time-rock-pocket-mouse-populations
Elisa Margarita
If you would share some answer keys – I would be grateful.
Admin
I modified this from HHMI material: https://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/color-variation-over-time-rock-pocket-mouse-populations There is a “teacher” section that has some insights/answers.
Lynde Phillips
Do you have a digital copy of the cards for this activity?
Thank you!
Lynde Phillips
Admin
Yes, they are from HHMI, though they have changed their site, I have my own copy saved on google drive: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/search?q=rock%20pocket%20mouse
Donna Davis
Could you please send me your answer key to this activity, if it wouldn’t be too much trouble? I would also like to thank you for sharing you wonderful resources. I appreciate all of you hard work and sharing it with you fellow teachers.
Admin
I haven’t made the key, mainly because the activity is also posted (in another format) at HHMI. I’ll see if I can put it on my to-do list. In the meantime, the teacher section of this activity at HHMI will provide assistance on the answers.
karen
any key yet?
Admin
Not yet, though I think I probably won’t make one, it becomes too easy for students to find the answers. HHMI has a key to their version which has similar questions if you are really stuck you can check out their teacher resources.
Gwendolyn Henry
Will you please make answer key available
Admin
The answer key is available at HHMI for free, though I did modify the lesson. I don’t make answer keys easily available because my students wil take shortcuts.
trinity
i can not find the answer key on that website is there any other way that i can find it?
Admin
HHMI biointeractive has the answer key, though my version is a little shorter and simpler.
Shahinda
I would like an answer key for boh the worksheet-
Evolution and the Rock Pocket Mouse
Admin
The worksheet is based of the HHMI activity, you can find the answers and more resources there.
Chrystie Ortega
I would love an answer key
Admin
This worksheet is adapted from resources at HHMI Biointeractive. Teacher resources can be downloaded there.