Post on 15-Apr-2017
transcript
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MammothsTeaching Enquiry with Mysteries Incorporated
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Why did mammoths become extinct?
Mystery
Engage Explore Expla in Extend Evaluate
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Could any of these have caused the extinction of mammoths? more predators not enough food change in climate increase in numbers of humans
Engage Explore Expla in Extend Evaluate
Your ideas
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Working Scientifically Big Idea4
In this activity you will:Use evidence to support or refute
explanations for why mammoths became extinct
Critique argumentsEvolution
Explain how a change in the environment can leave a species
less well adapted which may lead to extinction
Secret objective!Click to reveal the science behind the
mystery
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explanation 1
Climate change
explanation 2
Human hunters
There are two explanations which can explain how
mammoths became extinct.or
We can use evidence to decide which is more
probable.Engage Explore Expla in Extend Evaluate
Clues
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Why did mammoths become extinct?
Which explanation fits
best?
Explanation 1 Climate Change
Explanation 2
Human Hunters
Evidence
Use the lifeline to from the scientists.
consider the evidence
Engage Explore Expla in Extend Evaluate6
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Engage Explore Expla in Extend Evaluate
Latest research news...
Number of large mammal extinctions
few lots
Temperature change
small change
big change
Prof. Svenning
8How long ago humans arrivedEngage Explore Expla in Extend Evaluate
Number of large mammal extinctions
few lots
15,000 years250,000 years1 million years2 million years
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The human hunters
explanationAnimals may be adapted to avoid becoming the prey of familiar predators.
If a new predator arrives animals may not be adapted to survive.In the worst cases this can lead to extinction.Engage Explore Expla in Extend Evaluate
Explanatio
n Reveal the secret objective!
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The climate explanation
Animals are adapted to live in a specific environment.
If the climate changes the environment will also change.
If the animal is unable to adapt then the species may become extinct.
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Engage Explore Expla in Extend Evaluate
Explanatio
n
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Why did mammoths
become extinct?Scientists
still cannot agree!More studies are adding to the evidence for BOTH explanations.
Engage Explore Expla in Extend Evaluate
Explanatio
n
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Blue whales are at risk from extinction.Suggest possible
reasons why.
Mystery
Engage Explore Expla in Extend Evaluate
Student sheets
Sheet no. Title Notes
SS1 Dr Jean Clottes 1 in colour for conferenceSS2 Nigel Larkin 1 in colour for conferenceSS3 Changes is Earth’s
average temperature1 in colour for conference
SS4 Prof Jim Meed 1 in colour for conferenceSS5 Dr Barbara Silva 1 in colour for conference
Mammoths
Student sheets
Mammoths
Student sheetsSS1
Dr Jean Clottes,
French Ministry of CultureMammoths appear in a lot of cave art.Some people think this cave drawing looks like a mammoth trap, but I think it’s unlikely.
Evidence: Cave paintingsHumans may have trapped mammoths
Student sheetsSS2
Nigel Larkin,Curator of Geology, UK
This mammoth toe bone and hand axe were found together.
Evidence: Archaeological remains Humans may have used tools to cut up mammoths.
Student sheetsSS3Thousands of years ago
recent changes in Earth’s
average temperature.Hott
er
Colder
Changes in Earth’s average temperature
Evidence: Climate dataThe Earth’s climate warmed suddenly.
50 40 30 20 10 0
last ice age
now
Student sheetsSS4
Professor Jim Mead,USA
This mammoth’s dung shows that 90% of its food was grass and 10% other plants.If mammoths were like modern elephants, they would need 200 kg
of grass a day.Evidence: Fossilized dungMammoths depended upon grass for food.
Student sheets
Dr Barbara Silva,UK
The climate has a big effect on what grows in different parts of the world.We use fossils and pollen to identify the plants that grew in the past, and then deduce what the climate was like.
Cold, dry climate Warmer, wetter climate
Evidence: PollenIn cold dry climates grass is the main species of plant but in warmer wetter climates trees take over.
SS5