Today is a special day because we’re celebrating the birthday of one of the world’s most famous scientists, Charles Darwin! He was a naturalist, which means he studied plants and animals in their natural homes. Unlike other scientists who do experiments, naturalists like Darwin observe the world around them to learn about nature.
Darwin asked big questions like, “Why are there so many different kinds of living things?” His work helps us understand how plants and animals today are different from those that lived long ago.
Charles Darwin was born in England over 200 years ago. He started studying to be a doctor but soon became fascinated by nature. A friend suggested he go on an adventure to learn about different plants and animals, so Darwin set sail on a ship called the HMS Beagle. This was no ordinary trip; it lasted five years!
The Beagle traveled around the world, stopping in places like South America, the Pacific Ocean, Australia, and Africa. Darwin’s job was to study nature everywhere the ship stopped. He took lots of notes on the rocks, trees, and animals he saw.
One of the most important places Darwin visited was the Galapagos Islands near South America. These islands are special because they have animals that aren’t found anywhere else, like warm-water penguins, special sea lions, and giant tortoises.
Darwin noticed that animals that fit well into their environment had a better chance of surviving. For example, a green insect on a green leaf is harder for a bird to see than a pink insect. So, the green insect is less likely to be eaten and more likely to have babies. Over time, more insects in that area will be green.
This idea applies to all living things. Birds with bigger beaks can eat seeds that birds with smaller beaks can’t. Tortoises with longer necks can reach tall plants better. Over time, these traits help animals survive and have more babies, leading to changes in the species.
Darwin wrote about these ideas in a book that people still talk about today. Scientists use his ideas to learn more about how living things change over time.
So, let’s celebrate Charles Darwin’s birthday and thank him for his hard work. And of course, let’s have some cake! If you have questions about anything, ask a grownup to help you leave a comment or send an email to SciShow Kids!
Nature Observation Walk: Take a walk in your backyard, a park, or any natural area with an adult. Bring a notebook and pencil. Look for different plants and animals. Try to notice how they are different from each other. Write down or draw what you see. Think about why each plant or animal might look the way it does. For example, why might a bird have a long beak or a squirrel have a bushy tail?
Camouflage Experiment: Gather some small objects of different colors, like buttons or beads. Spread them out on a surface that matches one of the colors, like green objects on grass or brown objects on dirt. Ask a friend or family member to find the objects. Notice which colors are harder to find. Discuss how this is similar to how animals use camouflage to hide from predators.
Beak Challenge: Use different tools like tweezers, spoons, and clothespins to pick up various items like seeds, rice, or pasta. Each tool represents a different bird beak. Try to pick up as many items as you can in one minute. Which tool works best for each item? Talk about how birds with different beak shapes might be better at eating certain foods.
