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 planet. Finally, scholars apply their knowledge to the possibility of a future mass extinction.

Concepts

mass extinction, extinction

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Copy the graph into science journals or print it out and paste it
• Debate how high the sixth mass extinction will go based on extinction rate and percent of affected species

Classroom Considerations

• Relies on prior knowledge of extinction, timelines, and the periods in Earth's history

Pros

• Connects science and history
• Works well in traditional or flipped classes

Cons

• None

Common Core

SL.9-10.2 SL.11-12.2 RST.9-10.4 RST.11-12.4