Darwin’s Finches

This activity would fit with either the Y6 topic on Adaptation, or the Y6 topic on Evolution. The material is about the Galapagos Islands, and how, by studying the unique adaptations of the animals found there, Charles Darwin came up with ideas that he incorporated in his theory of evolution.

The overall aim is to devise a tour of the Galapagos Islands that would maximise the chances of a group of bird-watchers seeing six particular finches. The format is intended to be open-ended, and we hope that parents and children have fun with the idea of planning a sailing trip around the different islands. However, there are some specific tasks to be undertaken along the way, such as identifying the finches from a key, identifying the islands from a map (using geographical skills) and then using the information on habitats to identify the most likely locations for the birds.

The individual task-sheets are given below, but feel free to modify or adapt them. There is also a poem about the finches, which may be used as an introduction or in a plenary session.