This fully resourced KS3 lesson on Charles Darwin, is designed to help students understand of the theory of evolution and the process of peer review through clear explanations, guided practice, and structured activities. 
 
This is the 2nd in a series of lessons and covers the content from the AQA KS3 3.10.3 Evolution topic and the Activate 2 (OUP) 10b: Genes, 10.3.2 Charles Darwin lesson.
 
All resources are included, making it easy to run the lesson straight away. All text is editable, so you can adjust the depth, pace, or challenge to suit your class and the time you have available. 
 
While primarily written for UK students using British English spellings and vocabulary, the core content and activities can be easily adapted for students in other countries with similar educational systems.
 
Presentation contains (38 slides): 
Teacher preparation guide – Step-by-step teaching notes and technician guidance to help the lesson run smoothly.
Printable resources – Differentiated worksheets and homework tasks ready to use.
Vocabulary quiz starter – A quick activity to introduce and review key terms.
Clear objectives and success criteria – Straightforward learning goals to guide students through the lesson.
Discussion prompts – Engaging questions to spark curiosity and develop deeper thinking. Accessible information slides – Key concepts explained with clear visuals and simple wording for all learners.
Engaging activities – Differentiated student tasks, including:
○ Darwin’s evidence
○ Peer review
○ Class discussion
Tiered questions – A set of 3 challenge questions with answers, scaffolded by difficulty.
Differentiated homework – Three homework options (K/A/E) to consolidate and extend learning.
 
Aimed at a mixed ability KS3 class, with three levels of challenge: 
K- Know (low demand)
A- Apply (standard demand)
E- Extend (high demand)
 
This lesson is also available as:
Cover lesson worksheet: A ready-to-use version suitable for a substitute teacher.
Digital worksheet: Ideal for distance learning, catch-up work, or independent study.