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Why did the dinosaurs go extinct?
Web of Life Unit | Lesson 7 of 7
Back > Share

Why did the dinosaurs go extinct?

Web of Life Unit | Lesson 7 of 7
Lesson narration:
English Spanish
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DISCUSS:

How could scientists figure out what dinosaurs ate by studying fossils?

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DISCUSS:

How do you think a single asteroid hitting the Earth could cause all the dinosaurs to go extinct?

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organism


1 of 17

any living thing
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herbivore


2 of 17

an animal that only eats plants
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carnivore


3 of 17

an animal that eats only other animals
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omnivore


4 of 17

an animal that eats both plants and animals
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consumer


5 of 17

a living thing that eats other living things
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producer


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a living thing that makes its own food
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food chain


7 of 17

how living things are connected through what they eat and what they are eaten by
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food web


8 of 17

many different food chains found in one place
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solar energy (solar power)


9 of 17

energy from the Sun that provides energy for plants and consumers that eat those plants
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energy flow


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the movement of energy through living things
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model


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a pretend version of something that scientists use when the real thing is too big, small, or complicated to work with
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extinct


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a type of living thing that once lived on Earth but no longer exists
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fossil


13 of 17

the remains of a plant or animal that lived a very, very long time ago
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coprolite


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fossil poop
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atmosphere


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the air that surrounds a planet
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asteroid


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a rocky object in outer space
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evidence


17 of 17

information that can be used to support or reject an idea
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Featured Reviews

“The topic is SOOOOO high interest and the discussion was engaging and interesting the entire time. They got the main point about food webs, how organisms are connected and affect one another, how the sun is our main source of energy... What was amazing is how this was all taught through such a riveting topic that encouraged debate and critical thinking through theory making. I LOVED this mystery! ***APPLAUSE*** ”
· Yukendra · Teacher
“This ENTIRE lesson was 100% engagement - even with the 'hard to reach' students!!! All lessons have been great --- this was an eleven!!!”
· Lorraine · Teacher
“My students were sooo excited to learn more about the dinosaurs. I loved seeing the lightbulb go off when they thought about HOW the dinosaurs could have all disappeared and they connected it to the sunlight being blocked out somehow and the plants dying and it affecting the rest of the food web.”
· Alexandra · Teacher
“The students genuinely reached the conclusions on their own--and then they even recognized why certain animals are still around today. This lesson did a great job of leading students to the ideas and still allowing them to truly ponder and reflect.”
· Cynthia · Teacher
“Amazing conversations! Excellent way to teach all energy comes from the sun and to reinforce carnivores, omnivores, and herbivores. ”
· Annmarie · Teacher
“My students LOVED this lessson! The activity planned was amazing, they could discover what might happened to dinosaurs when the sun was blocked. The last video was also mind blowing for them!!!! ”
· Patricia · Teacher
“The steps for making the food web paired with the videos really engaged students throughout the lesson and they understood in a meaningful way how energy can be traced back to the sun. ”
· Emilie · Teacher
“This led to lots of light bulb moments as the students saw how everything was connected in an ecosystem. Was a great last mystery in the unit as it tied all their knowledge together. ”
· Caitlin · Teacher
“Youth loved discussing their theories on what they think might have happened to the dinosaurs. Engaging lesson.”
· Sheryl · Teacher
“This lesson did a great job of introducing food webs and providing practice for the students to apply their knowledge. The fact that you used dinosaurs to teach the lesson was charming. You continue to use creative and innovative ways to keep my students curious.”
· Beth · Teacher
“Best lesson I taught all year!”
· Christal · Teacher
“I liked how the black strips were used to cover the colored strips. That made it obvious why the extinction took place.”
· Charles · Teacher
“The kiddos loved relating what they are learning about food chains and food webs to Dinos!”
· · Teacher
Lesson narration:
English Spanish

Grade 5

Ecosystems & The Food Web

Food Webs & Flow of Energy

5-PS3-1

Activity Prep

Print Prep
In this lesson, students investigate the hypothesis that an asteroid impact caused the extinction of the dinosaurs. In the activity, Create a Dinosaur Food Web, students use cards and construction paper connectors to create a food web from the time of the dinosaurs. Using this model, they follow the flow of energy through the food web and figure out why dinosaurs went extinct but some other animals survived.
Preview activity

I have a Mystery Pack

Dino Die-Off Cards printout Print 15 copies
Dinosaur Food Web worksheet 30 copies
Dinosaur Food Web Answer Key teacher-only resource 1 copy
Markers
Pens, crayons, or colored pencils will also work.
Details
30 markers
Scissors
30 pairs
Black Construction Paper
8 sheets
Colored Construction Paper
15 sheets
Prep Instructions

We suggest students work in pairs. Homeschool students can work on their own.

Each pair of students needs an area that’s about 2 feet by 3 feet for their completed food web. Plan for enough space. Students can work at desks, tables, or on the floor.

Access to a paper cutter will make your activity prep really easy.

Prepare Connector Strips

If you have access to a paper cutter, we suggest you use one to prepare these construction paper strips.

Cut the black construction paper into strips measuring 3” by ¾”.

Black Construction Strips

Cut your colored construction paper into strips measuring about 4” by ¾”.

Color Construction Strips

Exploration

15 mins

Hands-On Activity

30 mins

Wrap-Up

5 mins

Grade 5

Ecosystems & The Food Web

Food Webs & Flow of Energy

5-PS3-1

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Credits
 
Ecosystems Lesson 7: Why did the dinosaurs go extinct?

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