Group Name(s) __________________________________________
Essential Question 2: How is evidence used to support the theory of evolution?
Lab Activity: Charles Darwin’s Hardware Shop
Developing Understanding____/12
Purpose:
The purpose of this investigation is to provide you with an appreciation for
the struggle that Darwin experienced in explaining life in terms of a “tree”.
Students will use easily obtained materials to construct an evolutionary tree
representing specialization, diversity, and selection.
Materials:
 A bag filled with an assortment of hardware items, including nuts, bolts, plastic pieces, wire,
hinges, hooks, etc.
 Large piece of paper
 Writing utensil
Procedure:
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1. Construct an evolutionary tree of the hardware provided on a large sheet of paper.
Example: a shorter nail may have evolved into a longer nail
Things to keep in mind:
 Why would this piece of hardware evolve into a different form

Hardware items in a straight line relationship represent organisms that have evolved
into the most current (highest) organism in that line…all others in the line are extinct!
2. Once your lab group is satisfied with how the items are arranged, be sure to…
 Sketch and label each piece of hardware in its’ place on the paper
 Draw lines and arrows to show the path of evolution
 Include two additional pieces of hardware that you are familiar with, but are not in your
bag, on the hardware tree.
Analysis and Conclusion:
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1. Why was your hardware tree arranged the way it was? Explain your reasoning for placing
items where you did step by step…do this on the sheet of paper in which you drew your tree.
2. Explain how your two additional pieces of hardware fit into the hardware tree. What did you
select and why… do this on the sheet of paper in which you drew your tree.
In your journal, answer the following:
_____/4
Write a paragraph to explain how this activity has increased your understanding of the theory
of evolution and Darwin’s “tree of life” idea.