ScienceEcosystems & HabitatsAges 12–13

Variation in Species

Explain variation within and between species, distinguishing between continuous variation (e.g. height) and discontinuous variation (e.g. blood group), and between genetic and environmental causes

Lesson

Set out your lesson

Practise the bounded task in Variation in Species; see exact limits before inferring broader coverage.

Before teaching

Use this short check, then start teaching.

Activity

Read frequency counts; discuss differences without ranking people.

Policy

Exact directed source edges retained; earlier authorship is not learner attainment.

Printer, credit, and teaching notes

Exact directed source edges retained; earlier authorship is not learner attainment.

Materials

These supplied stage cards
Scrap paper and pencil; oral/pointing response where appropriate

Sequence

Read readiness and decide on support without treating prerequisite authoring as learner readiness.
Open Show first and explain its model.
Use Guided Try with support and its separate adult key.
Close Show and guided keys before Try, unless this Try is explicitly supported.
Reflect on an actual attempt, including help used.

No Printer

Use the supplied screen cards; copying the exact task to paper is optional, not required.

Privacy

Use only invented scenarios and optional anonymous local notes. Do not request names, photos, family finances, medical data, accounts or uploads. Stop uncomfortable physical activity.

Use the complete materials on screen or print only the current sheet. Keep adult guidance out of learner view.

Next: Show

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Teaching approaches

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1 approach

Selected Default Gakuva

Practise the bounded task in Variation in Species; see exact limits before inferring broader coverage.

Family records and proof options

Keep a record of your learning

Save photos, notes, and attendance. Export a proof packet for compliance or portfolio reviews.

View learner plans ($12/mo per learner) See sample family archive

Learning resources

Extra practice links — they do not replace Gakuva’s teaching approach.

PhET Interactive Simulations · Practice link — not the full lesson

Natural Selection

Open practice(new tab)

Before you open · source notes

Natural Selection supports hands-on exploration for Variation in Species. Not every lab worksheet.

Free interactive page, no sign-in required for the tested path.

Before you open

Ask the learner what they changed in the sim or page and what they observed.

Opening this link does not save learning or assess mastery.

Source, access and review notes

Public PhET Interactive Simulations page. An anonymous GET on 2026-11-12 returned HTTP 200 with no login or payment prompt for this URL. Opening the link does not save practice or assess mastery. An adult should preview and guide the learner.

PhET Interactive Simulations. “Natural Selection.” External page; Gakuva does not copy, host, embed, or redistribute materials.

Unknown — link only

Check understanding

Gives examples of continuous and discontinuous variation in humans
Distinguishes between genetic causes of variation (inherited differences) and environmental causes (diet, sunlight, etc.)
Explains why sexual reproduction produces greater variation than asexual reproduction
Draws or interprets a frequency graph showing continuous variation

“If your child looked around a classroom and noticed that everyone has slightly different heights, hair colours, and eye colours, could they explain why these differences exist — and which ones are inherited, which are down to the environment, and which are both?”

Curriculum record

Type: Conceptual
Subject: Science
Domain: Ecosystems & Habitats
Age range: Ages 12–13

Standards

ngss-ms:MS-LS3-2uk-nc-2013:KS3.Sci.Bio.Adaptation.1

Curriculum