The Evolution game

Free*

45 minutes

Available on Mondays and Thursdays. 

This workshop can be followed up by downloading our free resources to use in the galleries if you click this link.

Ready to make a booking? Click the 'booking enquiry' link at the top of the page.

Have a question about this workshop? Email learning@greatnorthmuseum.org.uk

*Make a donation to support the learning programme.

In this workshop, pupils will explore how evolution happens through a game, as well as handling the museum’s collection of taxidermy birds. 

In the game, pupils will act as 'birds', being challenged to find enough 'food' to survive using their model beaks. Each generation, some may not survive (don't worry, these children will be given other jobs!). The birds may also face new challenges such as environmental change, and opportunities such as new adaptations. Each generation they will discuss and predict what might happen next due to those changes, then play another round to test it out. Finally, they will be able to look closely at and touch some taxidermy birds and beaks from our collection, considering how they might have evolved and what they are adapted for.

 Intended learning outcomes: 

• Explore and describe their experiences of the game - including the challenges living things face to survive. Make predictions about future generation's survival and test them through the game.
• Develop their understanding by correcting some key statements about how evolution happens.
• Identify and discuss adaptations of bird beaks, supported by our handling collection of taxidermy birds.

Please note: 

• Handling collection taxidermy is safe to touch, but please check if anyone in your group has allergies to animal fur. 
• This workshop does not include any real food, just beads to represent food, which are not edible.
• We would recommend this workshop when early in the topic, or if you prefer a more hands-on approach, rather than 99% Ape, which is more abstract and discussion-based.