• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Menu
  • Science Experiments For Kids
  • Science Fair Projects
  • Science Facts
  • Science Questions
  • About
    • Emma Vanstone
    • About Science Sparks
Science Experiments for Kids
Menu
  • STEM Challenges
    • STEM Challenges
    • FREE STEM Challenge Templates
  • Early Years Science
    • Preschool Science
    • Sensory and Messy Play
    • Understanding of the World
    • Pirate Science Experiments
  • Primary Science
    • Baking Soda Experiments
    • Candy Experiments
    • Biology
    • Climate Change for Kids
    • Coding for Kids
    • Chemistry
    • Electricity for Kids
    • Magic Science Experiments
    • Harry Potter Experiments
    • Human Body Science
    • Air Pressure Experiments
    • Life Cycles
    • LEGO Science Experiments
    • Kitchen Science
    • Famous Scientists
    • Forces and Motion
    • Science Sparks Snippets
    • Key Stage 1 Science
      • Animals
      • Everyday Materials
      • Plants
      • Coding Activities
      • Humans and Health
      • Fine Motor skills
      • Science and Literacy
    • Key Stage 2 Science
      • Animals, Including Humans
      • Electricity
      • Light
      • Plants
      • Materials and their Properties
  • Holiday Science
    • Christmas Science
    • Halloween Science
    • Easter Science
  • Storybook Themed Science Experiments
  • Wonderful Women in STEM
  • FREE Science Resources
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • FREE Experiments
  • Science for Kids
    • Kitchen Science
    • Climate Change
    • Egg Experiments
    • Fairy Tale Science
    • Edible Science
    • Human Health
    • Chemistry
    • Inspirational Women
    • Forces and Motion
  • Science Fair Projects
  • STEM Challenges
  • Science Sparks Books
  • Contact Science Sparks
  • Science Resources for Home and School

×
Home » Science Experiments for Kids » Famous Scientists » Charles Darwin – Making Fossils and Natural Selection

Charles Darwin – Making Fossils and Natural Selection

Modified: Jun 29, 2023 · Published: Jan 3, 2018 by Emma Vanstone · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

Charles Darwin is most famous for his work on Natural Selection, the evidence for which came from his voyage on the HMS Beagle observing and collecting fossils, birds and whatever else he could find.

What is Natural Selection?

The theory behind Natural Selection is that characteristics more suited to an environment are more like to survive and pass those characteristics to their offspring.

The main features of Charles Darwin’s theory are:

  • there is competition for resources such as food and water
  • within a population, there is natural variation

Animals or plants that are poorly adapted to their environment are less likely to survive and reproduce, meaning their genes are less likely to be passed to the next generation.

Make your own fossils

Image of a dinosaur imprint in clay for a Charles Darwin activity
DIY Dinosaur Fossils

Materials

Air drying clay or salt dough

Rolling pins

Small toy animals

Paint

Instructions

Roll out a thick circle of clay slightly bigger than the toy animals you want to use.

Gently press the animals down so they leave an imprint.

Once the dough has been baked or left to air dry, the fossils can be decorated using paint.

If you don’t have clay, salt dough is a great alternative.

Make fossils for a Charles Darwin activity
Dinosaur fossil

More ideas

Can you create fossils of different types of animals and ask a friend to match the animal to the fossil?

Make a model of an ammonite fossil.

Find out why birds have differently shaped beaks with this easy Natural Selection activity.

If you enjoyed learning about Charles Darwin, you might also like my other famous scientist experiments.

Learn more about rocks and their properties with my FREE Rock Lab!

Find lots more easy science ideas for little ones in my Playful Science series!

Last Updated on June 29, 2023 by Emma Vanstone

More Famous Scientists

  • Inspirational Women in STEM – Amelia Earhart
  • image of a bottle rocket, sling shot and other gravity experiments for kids
    Gravity Experiments for Kids
  • Leonardo da Vinci craft stick self-supporting bridge
    Leonardo da Vinci’s Self-Supporting Bridge
  • DIY mini Archimedes Screw
    Archimedes Screw Engineering Challenge

Safety Notice

Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Welcome!

Imagine a world where science education is accessible to everyone and is all about hands-on, exciting discoveries. That’s the world I want to create.

More about me

Around the World in 50 Experiments

50 experiments about countries of the world

Footer

↑ back to top

Science Sparks - FREE science experiments for kids

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Contact

  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Services
  • Media Kit
  • FAQ

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2025 Science Sparks - Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd