Lesson 6: Why do guppies have favorite colors?

In this lesson, students examine how natural and sexual selection can help explain why guppies are attracted to different colors. Students are prompted to ask questions about the different selective pressures that guppies might be exposed to, such as traits to help find food, avoid predators, or attract a mate. By playing The Guppy Game students investigate how fish with a variety of traits are affected by the environments in which they try to survive and reproduce. By analyzing data generated by the game, students begin to understand the selective pressures that drive the evolution of guppies. Finally, students create a scientific explanation that addresses these concepts.