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Extinct Mega Fauna of the Pleistocene in North
America
North America 12,000 years ago North America Today
Contents
Content and Language ObjectivesTerms to Know
HerbivoresCarnivores
Extinction TheoriesA “New” Animal in North America
Cave Art
Content Objective:Students will learn about some of the extinct species of
mega fauna that lived in North America before the mass extinctions of 9,000 years ago, and the causes of those extinctions.
Language Objective:Students will listen, discuss and write vocabulary
related to the Pleistocene extinctions of mega fauna. In pairs, students will discuss the significance of the
mass extinctions and apply the vocabulary to a graphic organizer (concept map).
Terms to Know• Mega fauna: BIG ANIMALS!• Pleistocene: 1.7 million years ago to 10,000 years ago • Ice Age: period of extreme cold, when glaciers covered
continents • Glacier: a large sheet of ice, that is miles high• Land Bridge: a large land mass that linked Asia to North America• Herbivore: plant eater• Carnivore: meat eater• Overkill Theory: Humans killed all the mega fauna• Climate Change: The end of the Ice Age killed the mega fauna• Mass Extinction: many species of plants and animals die off in a short period of time
The Herbivores(eat plants)
The Mammoth
Click Here
Two Famous Mammoths
Snuffy from “Sesame Street” Manny from “Ice Age”
The Giant Ground Sloth
The Giant Ground Sloth
The North American Camel
The Ancient Western Horse
The Carnivores!(eat meat)
The Saber Tooth Tiger
A Famous Saber Tooth Tiger
Diego from “Ice Age”
The Dire Wolf
THE BIG QUESTION:How did the mega fauna go extinct?
Click Here http://www.ic.arizona.edu/~mmap/205_reid/lec08a.htm
Theory #1: Climate Change
Between 14,000 years ago and 8,000 years ago the Ice Age ended.
North America today
Climate Change
Global Warming occurred between 14,000 and 8,000 years ago. Animals like mammoths could
not adapt to the warmer and drier environment.
Then….around 12,000 years ago,
a new animal came to North America….
http://www.ic.arizona.edu/~mmap/205_reid/lec07a.htmClick Here
Human tribes migrated from Asia to North America across a land bridge that is today covered by the sea.
The warming climate helped humans colonize North America.
Mammoth hunters were likely the “first” Americans. They are the ancestors of most Native Americans.
Large spear points were used to hunt
mammoths.Click Here!
Theory #2: Pleistocene Overkill!
Could human beings have hunted the Pleistocene mega fauna into extinction?
Two hunters carry a mammoth tusk back to camp.
Pleistocene Overkill
Mass Extinctions of Mega fauna(13,000-9,000 years ago)
OR
Overkill Climate Change
Many scientists believe that both over-hunting and climate change led to the mass extinction
of mega fauna.
End of the Pleistocene(9,000 years ago)
Humans in North America adapted to the warmer climate, while the mega fauna went extinct.
Mega Fauna in Cave Art
Click Here
Ancient Hands
