Exploring Extinction

Unit: Dino Discoveries: Nature's Connections

Lesson 2 of 7
Duration: 60 minutes
Year Group: Year 2
Curriculum Area: History, Key Stage 1, Areas of Study: significant events, people, and changes in the past – understanding changes in the environment and their impact on living things.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

1. Define the term "extinct" and relate it to dinosaurs.
2. Identify possible reasons why dinosaurs became extinct (e.g., environmental changes, asteroid impact, volcanic activity).
3. Explain how the extinction of dinosaurs has changed Earth's ecosystem over time.

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Assessment for Learning (AfL)

1. Formative: Check for understanding as students participate in group discussions and activities.
2. Summative: Evaluate their ability to illustrate and articulate at least one reason for dinosaur extinction in the plenary activity.

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Resources and Materials

1. Dinosaur fact cards (showcasing specific extinct species – e.g., Triceratops, Pterodactyl, Stegosaurus).
2. Visual chart: "Why Did Dinosaurs Disappear?" (with colourful illustrations like asteroids, volcanoes, etc.).
3. A realistic "fossil box" with hidden items such as toy bones, shells, and leaves (to explore extinction evidence).
4. Colouring sheets of dinosaur habitats (before and after extinction).
5. Whiteboard or large display board.
6. A 3-minute animated clip explaining dinosaur extinction (silent if preferred).

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Lesson Outline (60 Minutes)

1. Introduction (10 minutes)

1. Hook: Engage students through a quick "Guess the Dinosaur" game. Show profile silhouettes of different dinosaurs (e.g., T-Rex, Triceratops) and let students shout out their guesses.
   • Teacher dialogue: "Excellent guessing! But, have you ever wondered why we can only see these creatures in books and museums? Today, we’ll explore why dinosaurs no longer roam the Earth and what we can learn from their extinction."
2. Key Vocabulary Introduction: Write key terms on the board: extinct, environment, asteroid, volcano, and fossil. Spend 1-2 minutes explaining with visual aids.
   • Example for “extinct”: "Extinct means all of a species are gone forever. Raise your hand if you think there are any dinosaurs alive today!"
   • Tie the term "extinct" to woolly mammoths or dodos for a broader understanding.

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2. Main Activity 1: Story of Extinction (15 minutes)

Objective: Introduce students to theories of why dinosaurs became extinct.

1. Mini-Storytime: Share a simple, age-appropriate story about a young dinosaur exploring its environment before dramatic changes occur (e.g., “Danny the Dinosaur’s Lost World”). Use props or illustrations to captivate students’ attention.
2. Visual Exploration: Display the "Why Did Dinosaurs Disappear?" chart. Briefly explain each theory (asteroid impact, volcanic eruptions, changing climates) and connect them to real-world environmental changes today.
   • Use student participation: "What do volcanoes look like? Has anyone seen a picture of a meteor in the sky?"
3. Discussion Starter: Pair students for a quick “turn and talk” activity. Ask: "Out of the three reasons we’ve talked about, which one do you think is most likely? Why?"

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3. Main Activity 2: "Fossil Dig" (25 minutes)

Objective: Provide hands-on exploration to connect the concept of extinction with archaeological evidence, building curiosity.

1. Set the Scene: Transform students into "dinosaur detectives." Introduce a fossil box that contains evidence of extinction – toy bones, shells, dried leaves. Allow students, in groups of 5, to take turns pulling out an item and hypothesizing what it tells us about the past.
2. Teacher-Guided Inquiry: Ask open-ended questions:
   • "What might this fossil have been used for?"
   • "What does it tell us about the dinosaur’s world?"
   • "How do fossils help us understand extinction?"
3. Create a “Fossil Wall”: After each group finishes, ask them to draw one "clue" they found and add it to a collaborative wall display.

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4. Plenary: Draw and Tell (10 minutes)

1. Distribute colouring sheets featuring a dinosaur habitat. Ask students to colour the habitat "before extinction" and then imagine "after extinction" (e.g., replacing dinosaurs with plants or small mammals).
2. Call on a few volunteers to explain their picture to the class. Prompt questions like: "What changed after the dinosaurs became extinct? How do you think that happened?"

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Adaptations for All Abilities

• Higher-ability students: Offer them a short, written prompt for expanding the extinction theories (e.g., "Write what you think happened to dinosaurs in three sentences").
• Lower-ability students: Allow them to describe their ideas verbally or through pointing while you scribe on their behalf. Use extra visual aids if needed.
• Students with SEND: Provide textured props in the fossil box or offer 1:1 support during activities. Keep discussion short but engaging with yes/no type questions if needed.

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Extension Activity

Encourage students to ask their family members what they know about dinosaurs and their extinction at home. Students can bring in a fact they learned to share during the next lesson.

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Reflection for the Teacher

1. Were students engaged in the “Fossil Dig” activity?
2. Did they effectively connect the clues to the concept of extinction?
3. Were there sufficient opportunities for all students to participate and articulate their understanding?

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This lesson is designed to be both interactive and imaginative, using hands-on activities to explain a complex topic in a Year 2-friendly manner. It builds historical understanding of the past while subtly connecting it to broader environmental changes in the world today for a holistic approach.