During the time of early humans, there were fascinating animals that are now extinct like ground sloths, mammoths and saber toothed tigers. In this activity, students will create a spider map that describes and illustrates extinct megafauna. As an extension activity, students can research the modern day relatives of these great creatures, and describe how we interact with them now.
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Due Date:
Objective: Create a spider map describing 3 different animals that lived during the time of early humans. Using school resources, conduct some research to learn more about ground sloths, mammoths, saber toothed tigers or other extinct megafauna.
Student Instructions:
Requirements: 3 animals, 3 illustrations, 3 captions.
Bring extinct megafauna to life by setting up a simple classroom 'dig.' Hide printed images or small models of extinct animals in bins with sand or shredded paper. Let students excavate, identify, and record findings to build excitement and deepen understanding of paleontology.
Fill several containers with sand, rice, or shredded paper. Bury images or models of extinct megafauna in each bin. Label each station with a number for easy tracking and rotation.
Divide the class into small groups and assign each group to a station. Give students simple tools like brushes or spoons. Instruct them to carefully search for hidden items, just like real paleontologists.
Once groups uncover an item, ask them to describe the animal, hypothesize about its features, and record their findings in a shared class chart or notebook.
Challenge students to research and present what modern animals are related to their finds. Encourage discussion on how these animals have changed and how humans interact with them today.
An extinct megafauna activity for middle school involves students researching large prehistoric animals, such as ground sloths, mammoths, and saber-toothed tigers, and creating a spider map to describe and illustrate these creatures. This engaging lesson helps students connect with early human history and extinct species.
To create a spider map for extinct megafauna, select three animals, label each section with their names, add captions describing them, and include illustrations. Use school resources to research facts and images, then organize your findings visually with a central theme and branches for each animal.
Examples of extinct megafauna from early human times include the ground sloth, mammoth, and saber-toothed tiger. These large animals roamed ancient landscapes and are often studied to understand prehistoric ecosystems.
Teaching about extinct megafauna helps students learn about evolution, adaptation, and the impact of environmental changes. It also sparks curiosity about Earth's history and connects students to the lives of early humans and extinct animals.
Modern animals related to extinct megafauna include elephants, which are close relatives of mammoths, and big cats like lions and tigers, which share ancestry with saber-toothed tigers. Exploring these connections helps students understand evolutionary relationships.