The Last Cuentista - Peppered Moth

EVOLUTIONARY ADAPTATIONS
& THE PEPPERED MOTH
TEACHERS, check this hack for scoring open-ended questions during a live game.

THE LAST CUENTISTA STEM EXTENSION

In Chapter 12 of The Last
Cuentista, Petra remembers a
biology lesson on the evolution of
the peppered moth.

Peppered Moths & Pointy
Cheekbones?

Recalling the lesson makes her wonder what caused the
Collective members’ sharp cheekbones and prominent veins.

So, what does a moth have to do with the facial features of fictional
humans of the future?

In order to answer this question, we first need to learn about
evolution and adaptation.

Change: Not So Strange

Watch the video then
discuss the question
on the next slide.

Open Ended

What can happen to living things when the world around them changes?

Multiple Select

What's your number?

• 1

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• 4

Pineapples, Penguins & Polar Bears

Watch the video and
listen for these words:

environment
ecosystem
adaptation
food chain

Multiple Choice

What’s the difference between an environment and an ecosystem?

• Nothing. Both words mean the same thing

• An environment is a set of conditions; an ecosystem is a network of living things

• An environment never changes but an ecosystem does

Multiple Select

What 2 things are part of the environment?

• anything that never changes

• weather

• pollution

Multiple Choice

What’s an example of a species that was able to adapt to
a changing environment?

• Pterodactyls

• Neaderthals

• Humans

• Mammoths

Multiple Select

What are 3 examples of an adaptation?

• When pre-humans developed the ability to walk upright on 2 feet

• When certain reptiles developed new skin colors to camouflage themselves

• When bears developed the ability to hiberate in winter

• When rain gets very heavy

• when humans get type 2 diabetes

Multiple Choice

When giant insects once flew through Earth’s air, the
atmosphere contained way more oxygen than it does
now. Why?

• The insects did not breathe oxygen

• There were more plants, and plants make oxygen

• The air was less polluted

Multiple Select

Why did Earth’s oxygen levels drop hundreds of millions of years ago?

• Because creatures then didn't need as much oxygen as we do

• Plants could not adapt to the new cold, dry climate and died out

• Giant insects blew a lot of oxygen into space with their large wings

Dropdown

Through the process of ​

Select answer

, living things gradually ​

Select answer

changes in the ​

Select answer

.

Peppered Moths & Pollution

Watch the video then
discuss the questions
on the next slide.

Multiple Choice

How did peppered moths adapt to the new pollution
humans caused by burning coal?

• The species developed a stronger immune system to resist the pollution.

• Over time, the species changed color to camouflage themselves in the dark trees

• They didn't. That's why they're extinct

• The species started to eat foods people made in coal-burning ovens

Open Ended

Why do you think Petra thought of the adaptations of
the peppered moth when she noticed the facial
features of the Collective members on her ship were
very different from her own?

Multiple Select

What's your number?

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4