EXTINCT AND
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Teacher Guidelines ▶ pages 1 – 2
Instructional Pages ▶ pages 3 – 5
5-6
Activity Page ▶ page 6
Practice Page ▶ page 7
GRADE Homework Page
Answer Key
▶
▶
page 8
pages 9 – 10
Classroom Procedure: Approximate Grade Level: 5 – 6
Objectives:The students will be able to define
1. Display one image of an animal with an abundant population, one extinct and endangered, explain the difference
endangered, and one extinct animal. Ask: What is the between each, and identify some extinct and
difference between the animals? endangered animals.
2. Allow for responses and discussion. Many students will State Educational Standards*
NGSS.MS-LS4-1
recognize the extinct animal is “no longer living”. Lead the NGSS.MS-ESS1-4
discussion to the difference between endangered and extinct NGSS.MS-ESS3-3
versus the populous animal.
Class Sessions (45 minutes):
3. Distribute Extinct and Endangered Animals content pages. At least 2 class sessions.
Read and review the information with the students. Display the
Teaching Materials/Worksheets:
WWF website shown in the additional resources listing the Extinct and Endangered Animals content pages
various endangered animals. Use the additional resources to (2), Activity page, Practice page, Homework page
enhance understanding.
Student Supplies: Access individually or as a
4. Distribute Activity pages. Read and review the instructions. class to the following web site: https://www.
Distribute supplies and allow access to the Internet for worldwildlife.org/species/directory?direction=-
desc&sort=extinction_status , colored pencils,
images of the endangered animals. Give students sufficient time
construction paper or similar drawing paper,
to complete their drawings and list a few facts about each handouts
animal.
Prepare Ahead of Time: Website access for
5. Once completed, students will share at least one of their students during the lesson and for the activity.
animals along with some facts about the animal. Activity supplies. Copy handouts.
6. Distribute Practice page. Check and review the students’ Options for Lesson: Students may work in pairs
for the activity. Assign students three animals
responses.
instead of giving them an option for the activity.
7. Distribute the Homework page. The next day, check and review List about 5 of the most popular endangered ani-
the students’ responses. Spend extra time on Q. 8 – 10. mals, students vote on their favorite. As a class,
“adopt” one of the endangered animals through the
8. In closing, ask: Which of the endangered animals is one of WWF. Plan an “Endangered Animal Week”, each
your favorites? What would you do to help save it? day focused on a different animal. Create a class
booklet of the activity animals. Invite a con-
9. Allow for responses and discussion. servationist to the class to speak to the students about
what they could do to help the planet.
10.Close the lesson showing one of the videos from the
additional resources.
*Lessons are aligned to meet the education objectives and goals of most
states. For more information on your state objectives, contact your local
Board of Education or Department of Education in your state.
1
Teacher Notes
The lesson introduces students to extinct and endangered animals and the differences between each category. Most
students at this level become engaged in lessons related to animals. As the list of endangered animals change from year
to year, it may be necessary to update information related to endangered animals in the content pages. The extinct
animals most students know about, of course, are the dinosaurs. The World Wildlife Fund organization has a list of
endangered animals which is used for the lesson: https://www. worldwildlife.org/species/directory?
direction=desc&sort=extinction_status
2
Extinct and Endangered Animals
EXTINCT ANIMALS
Have you ever seen a real-life dinosaur? Unless you are 65 million years old, the
answer is no. There are no more dinosaurs living on Earth. At one time, there were
living, breathing dinosaurs wandering the Earth. Today, they are gone or extinct.
Extinct means there is no longer a certain kind of plant or animal living anywhere
in the world.
A species is a certain group of living organisms, like dinosaurs, humans, birds, and
many others. A species that becomes extinct has died out. Scientists believe many
organisms, along with the dinosaurs, died out when a large asteroid collided with
the Earth. The collision caused a mass extinction, which occurs at a faster rate
over a very short period of time.
However, extinction usually takes place over a longer time.
REASONS FOR EXTINCTION EXAMPLES
Climate change occurred during the Ice Age when the
Naturally temperature of the Earth was lower
Animals do not adapt to natural Species may be eliminated by new predators that move into
changes in the environment. their environment
The food needed to survive may no longer be available
Besides dinosaurs, another extinct animal was the wooly mammoth, related to the elephant, which died out 10,000
years ago due to climate change and the disappearance of its habitat.
3
REASONS FOR EXTINCTION EXAMPLES
Animal’s environment is destroyed by pollution or
construction, such as destroying parts of a rainforest
Human Interaction
Humans may overhunt wiping out an entire species
Hunting and habitat destruction
Moving of non-native species into an area where they are not
usually found
The Dodo bird became extinct due to overhunting and other animals moving into its environment. The passenger
pigeon died out due to the destruction of its habitat, as well as overhunting.
Throughout history, many animals have become extinct due to several reasons, but today there are many animals that
are in danger of becoming extinct, mostly due to human causes. When this happens, the animals are said to be
endangered.
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Endangered means a plant or animal is at risk of becoming extinct. This occurs when the population of a certain
animal is so low, that they are in danger of dying out forever and becoming extinct.
The reasons for an animal to become endangered are mostly the same as for those that have become extinct. There are
many animals in the world today that are on the endangered species list.
Some are so in danger of becoming extinct, they can only be found in a zoo. Here are just some of the many
endangered animals in the world.
4
ENDANGERED ANIMAL INFORMATION ABOUT
The black rhino is found in Africa. Hunting led to the decline of the rhino
Black Rhino
population. Today, there are fewer than 5,000 of them left in the world.
The orangutan is found in the Asian country of Malaysia. They are highly intelligent
Orangutan and are part of the ape family. The loss of their habitat has led to their decline, as
well as being easy targets for hunters.
This wild tiger is found mostly in India. Only about 2,500 of them survive in the wild
Bengal Tiger and have become endangered due to its habitat loss. The forest where they lived have
been cleared for the development of roads.
It is the largest animal in the world with a population of just 10 to 25,000 found in
Blue Whale the Gulf of California and a few other places. They are threatened by climate change,
habitat loss, and poisonous substances in the water.
Found in the Galápagos Islands located in the Pacific Ocean. Their numbers have
Sea Lions been reduced due to climate change, loss of food, and non-native species being
introduced, such as dogs spreading diseases to the species.
Other endangered animals include the giant panda, mountain gorilla, chimpanzee, and many others.
There will always be animals and plants that may become extinct, but doing simple things like recycling, saving
energy, planting a garden or sponsoring an endangered animal can help prevent extinction of some species in the
world.
Which of the endangered animals is one of your favorites? What w
5
Activity Name Date
Instructions
1. Supplies: Internet access, drawing/construction paper, colored pencils
2. Choose three animals from the endangered species list. Explore the page related to the animal.
3. In the space below, answer each question about the animal.
4. Using the construction or drawing paper, sketch a picture of the animal.
5. On each page, include the information from below matching it to the animal.
6. Once completed, you will share the image and the information about one animal with the class.
Animal: 1. 2. 3.
Questions:
What is the population of
the animal in the world
today?
Where is the animal
found in the world?
What are the animal’s
habitats?
What is causing the
animal to become
extinct?
Write 3 interesting
facts about the
animal:
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Practice Name
Date
Match the description to the correct term.
1 No longer a certain kind of plant or animal living in the world.
A Endangered
2 A certain group of living organisms.
B Extinction
3 A fast rate of animal loss in a short time-period. C Organisms
4 A plant or animal at risk of dying out forever. D Mass extinction
5 All the plants and animals in the world. E Species
Match the fact with the endangered animal it represents.
6 Galápagos Islands animal, diseases spread by dogs A Bengal Tiger
7 Part of the ape family, highly intelligent, hunted B Black Rhino
8 Found in India, habitat cleared for building roads C Blue Whale
9 Fewer than 5,000 remain, found in Africa D Orangutan
10 Largest animal in the world, threatened by climate change E Sea Lions
Match the example with the type of reason for extinction.
11 Pollution from factories causes species to die out
A Naturally
12 Climate change and the lower temperature of the earth 13
B Human Interaction
New predators move into an area
14 Over-hunting by ocean fisherman results in endangered fish 15
Food is no longer available for an animal
16 Forests are cut down to make room for roads and houses
17 Volcano or earthquake kills off a species
18 Animals from one habitat are moved into another habitat
19 Poisons from manufacturing is released into the environment
20 Asteroid collides with the earth
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Homework Name Date
Decide whether each animal is extinct (X) or endangered (E).
Wooly Mammoth Black Rhino
Bengal Tiger Dodo Bird
Orangutan Tyrannosaurus Rex or T-Rex
Passenger Pigeon Sea Lion
Saber-Toothed Tiger Blue Whale
Fill in the blanks using the word bank.
species humans asteroid recycling natural
1. The dinosaurs most likely became extinct when an collided with the Earth.
2. When animals may possibly die out, they are placed on the endangered list.
3. Sometimes animals do not adapt to changes in their environment.
4. Interaction by is the biggest cause of animal endangerment today.
5. Doing simple things like and saving energy could help prevent extinction.
Answer each question.
6. About how many years ago did dinosaurs become extinct?
7. About how many years ago did the dodo bird become extinct?
8. Do you think an extinct animal could live again? Why or why not?
9. There are many pets in the world like cats and dogs. What do you think could cause cats or dogs to be added to
the endangered species list?
10.Name three specific things you can do to help the environment and prevent animals from becoming
extinct?
8
Practice Name Answer Key Date
Match the description to the correct term.
1 B No longer a certain kind of plant or animal living in the world. A A Endangered
certain group of living organisms. B Extinction
2 E
A fast rate of animal loss in a short time-period. A C Organisms
3 D plant or animal at risk of dying out forever. D Mass extinction
All the plants and animals in the world. E Species
4 A
5 C
Match the fact with the endangered animal it represents.
6 E Galápagos Islands animal, diseases spread by dogs Part of A Bengal Tiger
the ape family, highly intelligent, hunted Found in India, B Black Rhino
7 D
habitat cleared for building roads Fewer than 5,000 C Blue Whale
8 A remain, found in Africa D Orangutan
Largest animal in the world, threatened by climate change E Sea Lions
9 B
10 C
Match the example with the type of reason for extinction.
11 B 20 A
15 A
12 A
16 B
17 A
13 A
18 B
14 B 19 B
9
Pollution Asteroid collides with the earth
A Naturally
from factories
B Human Interaction
causes
species to die
out Climate
change and
the lower
temperature
of the earth
New
predators
move into an
area
Over-hunting by
ocean fisherman
results in
endangered fish
Food is no longer
available for an
animal
Forests are cut
down to make
room for roads and
houses Volcano or
earthquake kills off
a species
Animals from one
habitat are moved
into another habitat
Poisons from
manufacturing is
released into the
environment
1
Homework Name Answer Date
Key
Decide whether each animal is extinct (X) or endangered (E).
X Wooly Mammoth E Black Rhino
E Bengal Tiger X Dodo Bird
E Orangutan X Tyrannosaurus Rex or T-Rex
X Passenger Pigeon E Sea Lion
X Saber-Toothed Tiger E Blue Whale
Fill in the blanks using the word bank.
species humans asteroid recycling natural
1. The dinosaurs most likely became extinct when an asteroid collided with the Earth.
2. When animals may possibly die out, they are placed on the endangered species list.
3. Sometimes animals do not adapt to natural changes in their environment.
4. Interaction by humans is the biggest cause of animal endangerment today.
5. Doing simple things like recycling and saving energy could help prevent extinction.
Answer each question.
6. About how many years ago did dinosaurs become extinct? 65 million
7. About how many years ago did the Dodo bird become extinct? 10,000
8. Do you think an extinct animal could live again? Why or why not? No, not likely since extinct means no longer
living, unless a cloned version is created. (May vary.)
9. There are many pets in the world like cats and dogs. What do you think could cause cats or dogs to be added to the
endangered species list? (May vary.)
10. Name three specific things you can do to help the environment and prevent animals from becoming extinct? (May
vary.) Use less water, use recyclable materials, save energy by turning off lights when not needed, sponsor an
endangered animal, etc.
