What is Evolution?

Evolution is the way living things change over a long time. Just like how you grow from a baby to a kid and then to an adult, plants and animals also change as time goes by!

How Does Evolution Happen?

Think about a group of birds. Some of them are very fast, and some are slower. If a cat comes near and chases them, the fast birds might get away, and the slower ones might get caught. Because the fast birds survive, they can have baby birds. Over many years, more and more of the baby birds will be fast, while the slow ones might disappear. This is called natural selection.

Why Do Living Things Evolve?

Living things evolve to survive better in their environment. If the weather changes, like if it gets colder, animals with thicker fur might do better than those with thin fur. They can stay warm and survive, so they have more babies. This helps the species change over time to become better suited for their home.

What are Some Examples of Evolution?

• Darwin's Finches: On the Galápagos Islands, there are different types of finches (a kind of bird). They all changed and have different sizes and shapes of beaks because they eat different kinds of food.
• Antibiotic Resistance: Some bacteria can change so that medicine (antibiotics) doesn't work on them anymore. This means they can survive even when we try to kill them!

Fun Facts about Evolution

• Evolution takes a really long time—sometimes millions of years!
• We are all part of the same family tree if you go back far enough—humans, birds, and even trees!

Conclusion

So, evolution is all about how life changes over time to become better at surviving. Remember, it happens very slowly, and it's like nature's way of making sure the best changes stick around!