Lizards in the Cold

Lesson Plans

Grades9, 10, 11, 12, APBiology, Mathematics

Scientist Reviewed

Provided by BioInteractive

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What it is

In this activity, students learn about natural selection in populations by analyzing and interpreting two graphs showing how anole lizards adapt to extremely cold temperatures.
The graphs are from a study in which scientists investigated how winter storms in Texas affected local populations of anoles.

Teaching tips

Positives

The educator materials document contains labeled illustrations, background information, interpretation of the illustrations, and discussion questions.
Students learn how to analyze data from a scientific illustration and understand how natural selection is impacted by climate change.

Additional Prerequisites

The resource includes an educator guide and student handout in PDF format.
The image of Texas and the two graphs are available to download as JPGs.

Differentiation

For students needing additional guidance, the teacher could lead the discussion and help students develop observations and interpretations.
Advanced students may be asked to write a paragraph on the relationship between extreme climate events, natural selection, and animal adaptation based on this resource.
The teacher could ask students to complete a project in which they study another species affected by extreme climate events.
Other resources related to the topic include the video Ecosystem Dynamics, Functioning and Resilience and the article 5 Plants and Animals Utterly Confused by Climate change.

From the scientist review

The resource describes changes in evolution as a result of the cascading climate change impact. The graphs shows the distribution of lizards and the changes within a critical thermal minimum. There is no contradiction in the model; thus, this resource is recommended for teaching.

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At a glance

Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12, AP
Subjects: Biology, Mathematics
Other types: Data, Graphs, and Maps, Worksheets
Format: PDF
Language: English
Location: North America, North America > United States, North America > United States > Texas
Provider: BioInteractive
Authors: BioInteractive
Published: October 15, 2021
Last updated: July 16, 2026
: Reviewed by our climate scientists How we review

Standards alignment · HS-LS4-3. + 5 more

Core

Core Standards legacy

HS-LS4-3.HS-LS4-3. Apply concepts of statistics and probability to support explanations that organisms with an advantageous heritable trait tend to increase in proportion to organisms lacking this trait.
HS-LS4-4.HS-LS4-4. Construct an explanation based on evidence for how natural selection leads to adaptation of populations.
HS-LS4-5.HS-LS4-5. Evaluate the evidence supporting claims that changes in environmental conditions may result in: (1) increases in the number of individuals of some species, (2) the emergence of new species over time, and (3) the extinction of other species.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.9-10.7CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.9-10.7 Translate quantitative or technical information expressed in words in a text into visual form (e.g., a table or chart) and translate information expressed visually or mathematically (e.g., in an equation) into words.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.11-12.7CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.11-12.7 Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media (e.g., quantitative data, video, multimedia) in order to address a question or solve a problem.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.HSS.ID.A.2CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.HSS.ID.A.2 Use statistics appropriate to the shape of the data distribution to compare center (median, mean) and spread (interquartile range, standard deviation) of two or more different data sets.

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What it is

Teaching tips

From the scientist review

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