Question 81
You are going to work in a group to contribute to a display about the extinction of the dinosaurs.
Choose one or more of these issues to research. Try to make sure that each group researches a different issue.
Issues to research
- Who first developed the idea that there was an asteroid impact that killed the dinosaurs? When did they put forward this theory, and what was their evidence?
- What do scientists think could have happened as a result of the asteroid impact? What is their evidence?
- Scientists think that other events may have contributed to the extinction of the dinosaurs. What are these events, and what is the evidence for them?
- How have the early theories changed over time? Why have they changed?
- Are dinosaurs really extinct? Some biologists think that a very familiar group of animals that live on Earth today are really dinosaurs. What are they, and why do biologists think this?
Doing your research
Use the internet to find information.
Before you begin, discuss in your group how you will choose the most trustworthy websites.
Here are some possible search terms you could try:
- dinosaur extinction event
- asteroid in the Cretaceous period
- Luis Walter Alvarez
- asteroid impact
- living dinosaurs.
Making the display
Work with the rest of the class to decide how the display will be made. For example, each group could produce a poster containing the results of their research. The posters could be displayed on the wall together. Alternatively, you could work together to create a multimedia class presentation.
Choose one or more of these issues to research. Try to make sure that each group researches a different issue.
Issues to research
- Who first developed the idea that there was an asteroid impact that killed the dinosaurs? When did they put forward this theory, and what was their evidence?
- What do scientists think could have happened as a result of the asteroid impact? What is their evidence?
- Scientists think that other events may have contributed to the extinction of the dinosaurs. What are these events, and what is the evidence for them?
- How have the early theories changed over time? Why have they changed?
- Are dinosaurs really extinct? Some biologists think that a very familiar group of animals that live on Earth today are really dinosaurs. What are they, and why do biologists think this?
Doing your research
Use the internet to find information.
Before you begin, discuss in your group how you will choose the most trustworthy websites.
Here are some possible search terms you could try:
- dinosaur extinction event
- asteroid in the Cretaceous period
- Luis Walter Alvarez
- asteroid impact
- living dinosaurs.
Making the display
Work with the rest of the class to decide how the display will be made. For example, each group could produce a poster containing the results of their research. The posters could be displayed on the wall together. Alternatively, you could work together to create a multimedia class presentation.
