Lesson Plan Day 7 | Wolfingers Classroom

Day 7
Why Do Extinctions Matter in the Story of Change?

Learning Target

I can explain the dinosaur extinction event as a major turning point in Earth history.

LESSON OVERVIEW

On Day 7, students study extinction as both an ending and a beginning. They learn the concepts of turning point, continuity, and change, then apply those ideas to the dinosaur extinction event or another extinction source. Students organize evidence using a before / event / after / change / continuity structure. The lesson emphasizes complexity: destruction can end one pattern while creating conditions for something new. Students also complete ACT-Style Quiz 0B, the Chronology, Scale & Evidence Check.

AT A GLANCE

In this lesson you will:

Explore whether destruction can create conditions for something new.
Learn the terms turning point, continuity, and change.
Read an extinction source and mark evidence.
Complete a turning-point organizer.
Take ACT-Style Quiz 0B.
Discuss whether extinction can be both an ending and a beginning.

BELL RINGER

Can destruction create conditions for something new? Explain.

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OBJECTIVES

Students will be able to:

Define turning point, continuity, and change.
Identify evidence from an extinction source.
Explain what changed after an extinction event.
Explain what continued after an extinction event.
Use evidence to explain whether extinction can be both an ending and a beginning.

I CAN STATEMENT

I can explain what a turning point is.
I can identify something that changed after an extinction.
I can identify something that continued after an extinction.
I can use evidence to explain whether extinction can be both an ending and a beginning.

I CAN GUIDE

No understanding: Completely lost. Needs direct help.

Very little understanding. Struggling. Needs major support.

Partial understanding. Knows a little. Needs more practice or guidence.

Good understanding. Mostly gets it. Can worl with minor help.

Full understanding. Completely understands. Can work or explain it by themselves.

Mini-Lesson

Learn the terms:
turning point
continuity
change

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Read the Extinction Source

Mark evidence about what happened.

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Turning-Point Organizer

Complete:

before → event → after → change → continuity

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ACT-Style Quiz 0B

Complete the chronology, scale, and evidence check.

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PACK Discussion

Discuss the exit question using evidence and respectful listening.

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KEY VOCABULARY

Extinction: When a species or group of organisms dies out completely.
Turning Point: A major event that causes important change.
Continuity: Something that stays the same over time.
Change: Something becoming different over time.
Cause: Why something happens.
Consequence: A result or effect.
Evidence: Information that supports or challenges an idea.
Before/After: A way to organize change over time.

ESL SUPPORTS

Extinction: extinción
Means: when a species dies out
Say it: Extinction changed Earth’s history. / La extinción cambió la historia de la Tierra.
Turning Point: punto de cambio / momento decisivo
Means: an event that changes the story
Say it: Extinction was a turning point. / La extinción fue un punto de cambio.
Continuity: continuidad
Means: what stays the same
Say it: Continuity shows what continued. / La continuidad muestra lo que siguió.
Change: cambio
Means: what becomes different
Say it: Change happened after extinction. / El cambio ocurrió después de la extinción.
Consequence: consecuencia
Means: a result
Say it: One consequence was new life. / Una consecuencia fue nueva vida.
Evidence: evidencia / prueba
Means: proof or support
Say it: Evidence explains the change. / La evidencia explica el cambio.

Vocabulario adicional

EXIT TICKET

Was the dinosaur extinction only an ending, or also a beginning? Use evidence.

Sentence Frame:
The dinosaur extinction was ________________.
It was an ending because ________________.
It was also a beginning because ________________.

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