Charles Darwin

Hello! My name is Charles. When I was a little boy, I didn’t like school very much. My favorite thing to do was play outside! I loved collecting things. I had jars full of colorful beetles and boxes of smooth, shiny rocks. I even had drawers filled with beautiful seashells. I loved watching the birds fly, the squirrels scamper, and the fuzzy caterpillars crawl on leaves. The world outside was my favorite classroom, full of so many wonderful things to see and learn about. I was always curious and loved asking questions about everything I found. My pockets were always full of treasures from nature.

When I grew up, I went on a super big adventure! A long time ago, in the year 1831, I sailed on a tall ship called the HMS Beagle. We sailed on the big, blue ocean all around the world for five whole years! I saw amazing things, like mountains that shot out hot, red lava and green jungles full of chattering monkeys. My favorite place was a group of islands called the Galápagos. There, I met giant tortoises that were so big I could ride on their backs. I also saw funny birds with all different kinds of beaks. It was the best adventure ever!

Seeing all those animals made me think and wonder. Why did some birds have short, strong beaks and others have long, skinny beaks? I realized that over a very, very long time, animals change a little bit to be just right for their homes. I grew very old and then I died, but my big ideas helped people understand how all living things are connected, like one big family. Isn't it wonderful to explore our world and ask big questions? Always be curious and love the amazing world around you.