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99 percent of the species that have ever lived on this planet are extinct. The best way to understand when another extinction could happen is to study the previous five mass extinctions. The video discusses each one, the cause, the impact, and the numbers of species killed. Then it predicts the next mass extinction. (Hint: We are living it right now.)
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Instructional Ideas
- After watching the video, let students brainstorm names for the sixth mass extinction
- Divide you class into five groups and assign each group one of the extinctions to research and present their findings to the class
Classroom Considerations
- Public comments often contain cursing and other content not appropriate for the classroom
- This video is hosted on YouTube
Pros
- Offers the technical definition of mass extinction
- Connects to climate change, evolution, and current events
Cons
- None