Extinction Grade Level: 1 3 Teacher Guidelines pages 1 2 Instructional Pages pages 3 4 Activity Pages pages 5 6 Practice Page page 7 Answer Key pages 8 9
Classroom Procedure: 1. Distribute the Extinction content page. Read and review with the students during the lesson. 2. Stress the difference between extinct and endangered, as well as the different ways animals or plants can become extinct. 3. Distribute the activity pages, scissors, glue/paste. The use of the Internet and or other sources may be helpful for students to distinguish between surviving, extinct, and endangered. For younger students, the activity may be completed together with the class. 4. Once all students have completed the activity, allow students to share the names of the animals from each category. 5. Distribute the Practice page, and depending on the grade level of students, they may work independently, in pairs, or circle the correct answers as it is read aloud during class. 6. Once all students are completed, review the Practice page. 7. In closing the lesson, ask students: What extinct animal is your favorite and why? 8. Allow every student to respond. You may also include additional information about helping to prevent endangered animals from becoming extinct. Approximate Grade Level: 1 3 Objectives: The students will be able to define and explain different causes of extinction, and give examples of extinct animals. The students will be able to define endangered, and give examples of endangered species. Common Core State Standards: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.1.B CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.1.4 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.1.2 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.1.5 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.2.3 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.2.4 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.2.7 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.2.2 CCSS.ELALiteracy.RI.3.3 CCSS.ELALiteracy.RI.3.4 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.3.2 Class Sessions (45 minutes): 1 or 2 class sessions Teaching Materials/Worksheets: Extinction content page, Activity page, Practice page, Student Supplies: scissors, glue/paste, handouts Prepare Ahead of Time: Scissors and glue/paste for the activity. Optional images for the names of the animals. Image of an extinct, endangered, and surviving animal for opening to lesson. Copy handouts. Options for Lesson: Find pictures for the students to use for the activity. Allow students to work in pairs. For older students, assign an extinct or endangered animal to research and write a report. Use the Practice page for a homework assignment. Class adopts an endangered species. 1
Teacher Notes There are many additional resources to use for this lesson, especially regarding dinosaurs; a favorite for many students, and exploring the topic more in-depth for advanced or older students. The lesson is designed as an introduction to extinction, as well as contrasting endangered species. Be sensitive to students who may be concerned about an asteroid colliding with the Earth in their lifetimes. Additional Resources: http://a-z-animals.com/animals/endangered/ (List of animals and links) https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/directory?direction=de sc&sort=extinction_status (World Wildlife list) http://paleobiology.si.edu/geotime/main/foundation_life4.htm l (Content) https://ypte.org.uk/factsheets/extinction/what-isextinction#section (Content) http://www.oum.ox.ac.uk/thezone/animals/extinct/index.htm (Content) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fg8ynnsww08 (4 min. video 10 extinct animals) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2juqral-sfq (11 min. video 10 extinct animals) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7izvcva53a (10 min. video Hunted into extinction) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lagpxszo094 (12 min. video Endangered) https://gifts.worldwildlife.org/giftcenter/gifts/species-adoptions.aspx (Specie adoptions) 2
Extinction Have you ever seen a real, living dinosaur at the zoo? The answer has to be, No. This is because dinosaurs are extinct. Extinction means there is no longer a plant or animal species of a certain kind living anywhere in the world. The species has died out. Dinosaurs are one of those species. A species is a certain group of living organisms, like dinosaurs, humans, birds, and many others. Mass Extinction Extinction usually occurs over a long period of time, but sometimes it can happen at a faster rate, which is called mass extinction. About 65 million years ago, most scientists believe nearly all of the species disappeared, including the dinosaurs, due to a large asteroid colliding with Earth. Many different species died out at that time, too, including plants and other animals. Environmental Changes There are also species that have become extinct when they lose the ability to adapt to changes in the environment, face new predators, or no longer have access to the food they need to survive. This is the type of extinction that usually takes a much longer period of time. The Dodo Bird The Dodo Bird Humans can be the cause of extinction due to overhunting, habitat destruction, or moving non-native species, into an area where they are not usually found. An example is the extinction of the dodo bird. The dodo bird died out because it became food for non-native species such as pigs and cats, which were moved by humans into the dodo s habitat. 3
Endangered Species Today, blue whales are facing extinction due to humans overhunting them. The destruction of habitats, changes in climates, and other factors may also threaten many plants and insects throughout the world. The types of animals and plants at a risk of becoming extinct are called endangered species. When a species is endangered, they may soon die out and no longer exist. Some endangered species today include the giant panda, mountain gorilla, black rhino, tiger and many others. There will always be animals and plants that become extinct, but doing simple things like recycling, saving energy, planting a garden or sponsoring an endangered animal can help prevent extinction of some species in the world. How do species become extinct? Large events (like an asteroid) that cause mass extinction Animals lose ability to adapt to changes in the environment New predators hunt the animal Animals can t find the food they need to survive Humans destroying an animal s habitat Humans over-hunting the animal Humans bringing in non-native species into the animal s environment. 4
Activity Name Date Cut apart each of the animal names and decide if they are surviving, endangered, or extinct. Place them under the correct label on the next page. RED WOLF GIANT PANDA BLACK RHINO DODO BIRD SLOTH FIELD MICE SEA COW BAT HUMANS JELLYFISH BLACK BEAR MOUNTAIN GORILLA CHIPMUNK BROWN BEAR WOOLY MAMMOTH CENTIPEDE DINOSAUR TIGER SABRE-TOOTHED TIGER SEAHORSE 5
SURVIVING (7) ENDANGERED (8) EXTINCT (5) 6
Practice Name Date Circle the correct word in the parenthesis for each blank in the story. One day, about 65 million years ago, all of the (humans dinosaurs) were living on the Earth. Scientists think a large (asteroid planet) collided with the (moon Earth). Most of the living (species people) did not survive the collision, and were no longer living on the Earth. The organisms became (endangered extinct) because all of them died off and were no longer living. It was called a (great extinction mass extinction) because it happened very quickly. Not just animals died, but there were also many other organisms like (water plants) that became extinct, too. There are also (species dinosaurs) that become extinct over a long period of time. They lose the ability to adapt to the changes in the (temperature environment) or face new (problems predators). This takes a much longer time to occur. (Humans Pollution) can also be the cause of extinction due to overhunting or habitat destruction. The extinction of the (blue bird dodo bird) was caused by humans introducing a (native non-native) species into their habitat. Today, (sharks blue whales) are in trouble of becoming extinct, which means they are (endangered surviving). Other species that are in trouble of becoming extinct include the giant (gorilla panda) and the tiger. When a species dies and no longer exists, it will become (endangered extinct). Some animals and plants will always become extinct, but it is important for you to do simple things like (recycling cleaning) and saving energy. 7
Activity ANSWER KEY Name Date Surviving: Filed mice Bat Humans Jelly fish Black bear Chipmunk Centipede Endangered: Red wolf Giant panda Black rhino Tiger Sloth Mountain gorilla Brown bear Seahorse Extinct: Dodo bird Sea cow Wooly mammoth Sabre-tooth tiger Dinosaur 8
Practice ANSWER KEY Name Date Circle the correct word for each blank in the story One day, about 65 million years ago, all of the (humans dinosaurs) were living on the Earth. Scientists think a large (asteroid planet) collided with the (moon Earth). Most of the living (species people) did not survive the collision, and were no longer living on the Earth. The organisms became (endangered extinct) because all of them died off and were no longer living. It was called a (great extinction mass extinction) because it happened very quickly. Not just animals died, but there were also many other organisms like (water plants) that became extinct, too. There are also (species dinosaurs) that become extinct over a long period of time. They lose the ability to adapt to the changes in the (temperature environment) or face new (problems predators). This takes a much longer time to occur. (Humans Pollution) can also be the cause of extinction due to overhunting or habitat destruction. The extinction of the (blue bird dodo bird) was caused by humans introducing a (native non-native) species into their habitat. Today, (sharks blue whales) are in trouble of becoming extinct, which means they are (endangered surviving). Other species that are in trouble of becoming extinct include the giant (gorilla panda) and the tiger. When a species dies and no longer exists, it will become (endangered extinct). Some animals and plants will always become extinct, but it is important for you to do simple things like (recycling cleaning) and saving energy. 9