How this Lesson Fits with National Standards for Science Education

This lesson was designed to specifically target scientific literacy skills described in the Benchmarks for Scientific Literacy and to address a content standard included in the National Science Education Standards for grades 5-8.

Benchmarks of Scientific Literacy

Specific Science Literacy Skills Addressed in this lesson:

* Ability to recognize and analyze alternative explanations and models

This assignment asks students to consider different explanations for extinction in general and for their specific chosen endangered species.

*Communicate and defend a scientific argument

The activity for this lesson encourages students to communicate their research and understanding in a clear way. Their presentation gives them experience in defending and explaining their own work.

*Use technology to improve investigations and communications

The Internet is an important resource for current information about endangered species. Students will need to utilize the Internet as a research tool to improve the quality of their research. Also, the creative aspect of the presentation allows students to incorporate technology to improve their communication skills.

NSES content standard

The Life Science Content Standard for grades 5-8 under “Diversity and Adaptations of Organisms” category states that students at this level should understand:

"Extinction of a species occurs when the environment changes and the adaptive characteristics of a species are insufficient to allow its survival. Fossils indicate that many organisms that lived long ago are extinct. Extinction of species is common; most of the species that have lived on the earth no longer exist."

This lesson addresses the causes of extinction as described in this standard. Students will not only learn about extinction in the past but in the present day as well.

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