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The K-Pg Extinction Event

CONCEPTUAL
Science›Dinosaurs & Paleontology|Ages 9—11|ID: mt_QHKqckBdAk

Describe the Cretaceous–Palaeogene (K-Pg) extinction event approximately 66 million years ago, including the asteroid impact theory and its evidence (iridium layer, Chicxulub crater), and understand that this ended the reign of non-avian dinosaurs

Mastery Evidence

  • State that the K-Pg extinction happened about 66 million years ago and wiped out non-avian dinosaurs
  • Describe the asteroid impact hypothesis and name the Chicxulub crater in Mexico
  • Explain one piece of evidence: the iridium-rich layer found worldwide in rocks from that time

Assessment Prompt

“Can [child] explain what scientists think caused the dinosaurs to go extinct — and describe at least one piece of evidence for the asteroid theory?”

Prerequisites2

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  • Dinosaurs Were Real hard

    Must understand extinction concept before learning about the K-Pg extinction event

  • The Mesozoic Era hard

    Must know the Cretaceous period before understanding the Cretaceous-Palaeogene boundary

    • Famous Dinosaur Species soft

      Knowing species names helps when assigning them to time periods

    • Dinosaurs Were Real hard

      Must understand dinosaurs existed long ago before placing them in geological periods

    • Dinosaur Sizes soft

      Placing the Mesozoic periods in order and understanding that different dinosaurs lived in different periods is contextualised by the prior knowledge that dinosaurs varied enormously in size — size variation across time periods supports the concept of evolutionary change

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