Year 6 Evolution and Inheritance Worksheet - Beginner

Year 6 Evolution and Inheritance worksheet for Year 6 (Key Stage 2 / Year 3-6 (Ages 7-11)). Beginner level science practice, aligned to the UK National Curriculum. Print-ready with answer key included.

Science•Key Stage 2 / Year 3-6 (Ages 7-11)•Animalsbeginner

27 views

Evolution and Inheritance: Clues from the Past

Year 6 Science • Ages 10–11 • Beginner

Name:

Date:

Score:

Instructions: Read each prompt carefully and use the facts given to help you answer. The activities explore fossils, variation between parents and offspring, and how adaptations can help populations change over many generations. Use the answer boxes for your written responses.

Fossil Clues

A fossil is the preserved remains or trace of an organism from long ago. Use the information in each question and write a short answer in the box.

1. A fossilised shell is found in a layer of rock. What kind of evidence does this give scientists?

2. Which is more likely to become a fossil: a hard shell or a soft leaf?

3. A fossil is found deep in a sequence of undisturbed rock layers. Is it usually older or younger than a fossil found nearer the top?

4. How can fossils provide evidence that living things have changed over time?

Offspring and Variation

Offspring inherit features from their parents, but they are not usually identical to either parent. For each question, use the examples to describe or identify a difference.

1. Two rabbit offspring have different fur colours: one is brown and one is grey. What variation do they show?

2. A young plant has inherited leaf shape from its parent plant, but its leaves are slightly larger. Name one way it is similar to its parent and one way it differs.

3. A litter of puppies has different coat patterns. Are the puppies identical to one another?

4. What does the word “variation” mean when describing individuals of the same species?

Adaptations in a Habitat

An adaptation is a feature that helps an organism survive in its environment. Read each example and identify the helpful feature or its benefit.

1. Arctic foxes have thick fur. How can this adaptation help them in a cold habitat?

2. A cactus has a thick stem that stores water. Which resource does this adaptation help it manage?

3. A duck has webbed feet. How can webbed feet help it move in water?

4. A moth’s colouring blends in with tree bark. How might this adaptation help the moth avoid being eaten?

How Populations Change

Natural selection happens over many generations. Individuals with inherited variations that suit their environment may survive and reproduce more successfully. Complete each sentence with the best idea.

Word bank: inherited variation, survive, reproduce, helpful adaptation, many generations

1. Individuals in a population may have different features because of ___.

2. In a particular environment, a ___ can help an organism.

3. Organisms with helpful features may be more likely to ___ and have offspring.

4. If offspring inherit a helpful feature, it may become more common in the population over ___.

Follow the Fossil Evidence

Study the descriptions of fossils found in older and younger rock layers. Then use the evidence to answer the questions. Remember that fossils provide clues about organisms from the past.

Fossil record:

Older rock layer: fossil shells with simple shapes

Younger rock layer: fossil shells with a wider variety of shapes

1. Which rock layer contains the older fossils?

2. What difference is described between the shell fossils in the two layers?

3. What can this fossil record suggest about variation in shell shapes over time?

4. Why should scientists use evidence from many fossils rather than just one fossil when studying change over time?

Check Your Understanding

Choose the best answer for each question. Think about the difference between an individual adapting during its lifetime and a population changing over generations.

1. What is a fossil?

2. Which statement about offspring is correct?

3. What may happen to a helpful inherited adaptation in a population over many generations?

4. Which example is an adaptation?

Answer Key

Activity 1: 1. Evidence that an organism lived in the past; 2. A hard shell; 3. Older; 4. Fossils from different times show that organisms and their features have changed.

Activity 2: 1. Fur colour; 2. Similarity: inherited leaf shape; difference: the offspring’s leaves are slightly larger; 3. No; 4. Differences between individuals of the same species.

Activity 3: 1. It helps keep the fox warm; 2. Water; 3. They help the duck paddle or swim; 4. It camouflages the moth, making it harder for predators to see.

Activity 4: inherited variation ; helpful adaptation ; survive ; many generations

Activity 5: 1. The older rock layer; 2. The younger layer has shells with a wider variety of shapes; 3. Shell-shape variation may have increased or changed over time; 4. Many fossils provide a broader, more reliable set of evidence about variation and change.

Activity 6: 1. An organism’s preserved remains or trace; 2. They inherit features but can vary from their parents; 3. It may become more common; 4. A bird’s beak shape helping it obtain food