How does life evolve? The interactive provides a simulation based on the Game of Life invented by mathematician John Conway. Users can run the applet with the preset rules and settings or adjust them to view whether overpopulation or extinction occurs. 

Concepts

overpopulation, population, population growth, population trends, probability, probability experiments

Show More Show Less

Additional Tags

math

Show More Show Less

Instructional Ideas

• Research the Game of Life invented by John Horton Conway
• Provide specific settings and determine what happens to life after 10 steps

Classroom Considerations

• Learners should be aware of populations and the effects of overcrowding

• This resource is only available on an unencrypted HTTP website.It should be fine for general use, but don’t use it to share any personally identifiable information

Pros

• The activity comes in two versions
• Provides guidance on how to use the interactive

Cons

• None

Common Core

HSS-IC.A.2 HSS-IC.B.5 HSS-MD.A.1 HSS-MD.A.2 HSS-MD.B.7