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Interactive
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Mass Extinctions Interactive

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Extinctions constantly occur, but what sets off a mass extinction event? Young scientists study the data from the previous five mass extinctions to better understand their causes. Then, they learn the impact each extinction had on our...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Extinction and Rediscovery of the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker

For Teachers 5th - 8th
An incredibly thorough, and well-designed lesson teaches youngsters about the presumed extinction and rediscovery of the ivory-billed woodpecker in Arkansas. Learners discuss the environmental factors that led to the birds disappearance....
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Activity
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Weighing the Evidence for a Mass Extinction: Part 1 – In the Ocean

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
Extinction events have happen throughout geologic history, but only five mass extinctions occurred over the last 4.5 billion years. Scholars view fossils from a layer of sediment during an extinction event and observe patterns to draw...
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Activity
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Weighing the Evidence for a Mass Extinction Part 2: On Land

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
What can fossils tell us about periods of extinction? Young scholars interpret fossil layers to make conclusions about changes in life during different geological time periods. They analyze the fossils for abundance and diversity as well...
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Activity
It's About Time

Mass Extinction and Fossil Records

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
The focus of a fossil-based lesson uses graphs and charts that allow young paleontologists to make inferences about events of mass extinction. They must apply their previous knowledge about fossil records in this final lesson of the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Extinction

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students develop a definition of extinction.  For this extinction lesson, students listen to What Happened to Dinosaurs? Students research and debate theories of what happened to dinosaurs.  Students present their arguments.
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Interactive
American Museum of Natural History

Extreme Mammals

For Students 6th - 12th
Extreme characteristics can create some unusual mammals. Learners flip through a slide show of some of the most interesting mammals that are both living and extinct. Implement as a remote learning resource or use in-class to review...
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Interactive3:28
Scholastic

Study Jams! Population Growth

For Students 6th - 9th Standards
Along came a spider, who sat down beside her. She screamed, but RJ wouldn't smash it because spiders are a limiting factor for other insects in an ecosystem. In this video, other common limiting factors for populations are listed....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Extinction of Dinosaurs

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students study the life and death of the dinosaur by building dioramas. In this dinosaur lesson, students research the extinct creatures, then build dinosaur dioramas. Afterward, the students engage in a discussion about the extinction...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Speciation and Genetic Drift Worksheet

For Students 9th - 12th
Fifteen terms pertaining to speciation, extinction, and gene flow are to be matched to their definitions. This simple, easy-to-read instructional activity can be used as a pop quiz for your biology learners when studying natural...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

PASSENGER PIGEONS: NOMADS LOST

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the concept and implications of extinction using the example of the Passenger Pigeon, once an extremely abundant species that was completely eliminated by humans.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Evaluating the Strength of Scientific Evidence: The Rediscovery of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker

For Teachers 7th - 12th
A happy discovery occurred in Arkansas in 2004: a woodpecker, believed to be extinct since the 1940s, reappeared! Or did it? Middle to high school ecologists examine scientific evidence and use critical-thinking skills to determine...
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PPT
Curated OER

Fish and Wildlife in America

For Teachers 8th
Some of the details of the use of wildlife as food and crop resources are given at the beginning of this slideshow. Next, the historical problems with wildlife are explained, as are some mistakes that have been made leading to extinction...
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Unit Plan
2
2
Curated OER

Sustainability and Extinction

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Galapagos Penguins are the only penguins on earth that live north of the equator (in the wild). In this last lesson plan a discussion on how the Galapagos islands developed their populations and diversity sparks the introduction. Two...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mammoth Extinction

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore various hypotheses concerning the extinction of the woolly mammoth.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Investigation 6 - Dinosaur Extinction

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders research and analyze theories on why dinosaurs became extinct. They need to find clues as to what the cause may have been. They record the evidence that they find to support their theory on the Dinosaur Extinction Theory...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Responsibility of Preservation

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Upper elementary and middle schoolers study the case of the ivory-billed woodpecker, a bird that was once-thought to be extinct. Learners explore the responsibility of people to preserve habitats, and take care of the animals who live in...
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Interactive
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

EarthViewer

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
Almost complete annihilation of the plants and animals on the Earth has occurred at least five times in the past. Young scientists explore each of these events. They learn about the evidence and conclusions for each event and connect...
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Activity
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Finding the Crater

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
A mass extinction event caused by an impact usually leaves a crater. Scholars use data from 10 different sites around the world trying to determine where to look for the crater. They use data, listing the amount of various minerals to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where Are the Dinosaurs?

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Learners explore the concept of extinction by studying dinosaurs. In this extinction lesson, students watch dinosaur video clips or complete a puppet finger play about dinosaurs. Learners may then complete a dinosaur diorama or a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where Are the Dinosaurs?

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students explore the concept of extinction by studying dinosaurs. In this dinosaur lesson, students distinguish between extinct creatures and those that still exist.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Were Dinosaurs Like?

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students view a video clips about Dinosaurs.  In this dinosaur lesson, students begin to understand the extinction of the dinosaurs by comparing them to contemporary animals. Students complete a research sheet on one dinosaur by...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Examining Endangered Species

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Middle school environmental science classes research the threatened, endangered, and extinct organisms listed for their state. They design and construct a poster of the information gleaned and write an essay about how they might be able...
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Website
American Museum of Natural History

Going, Going...Gone?

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
Young environmentalists consider how scientists are attempting to save endangered species. They read about what causes extinction and steps to take to minimize the threats. 

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