Scientists believe confuciusornis developed a beak and lost teeth as a key step in the evolutionary process. Learn more about confuciusornis and other birds, dinosaurs, and animals that evolved into the birds of today. PBS Eons walks through the scientific discoveries and explains what each means for humans' understanding of the bigger picture of evolution, life, and the fragile planet.

Concepts

fossil records, fossils, birds, dinosaurs

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Add new vocabulary to science journals
• Debate if birds are dinosaurs based on the details shared in the video

Classroom Considerations

• Relies on prior knowledge of evolution, dinosaurs, and birds

• This video is hosted on YouTube

Pros

• Connects biology, technology, history, geology, ornithology, paleontology, geography, and more
• Offers closed captioning for ease of note taking

Cons

• None

Common Core

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