The Day the Mesozoic Died

The following classroom-ready resources complement The Day the Mesozoic Died. This 33 minute-long film tells the story of the extraordinary detective work that led to the stunning discovery that an asteroid struck Earth 66 million years ago, triggering a mass extinction of animals, plants and even microorganisms.

At A Glance Film Guide (PDF)
Student Quiz (PDF)
In-Depth Film Guide for Teachers (PDF)

“The Day the Mesozoic Died” (PDF)
A short article by Dr. Sean B. Carroll, which serves as a supplement to the film and great non-fiction reading for the Common Core standards.
Appropriate for: middle and high school science classes (all levels)

Following the Trail of Evidence
Teacher Materials (PDF) Student Handout (PDF)
A worksheet in which students write down the evidence that led to the discovery that an asteroid struck Earth about 66 million years ago, causing a mass extinction. Through this exercise students gain an appreciation for the scientific process, which consists of asking questions, making observations, formulating hypotheses, and gathering and evaluating evidence.
Appropriate for: middle school earth and life sciences and high school biology, earth science, chemistry, and physics (all levels)

Chemical Signatures of Asteroids Impacts
Teacher Materials (PDF) Student Handout (PDF)
A lesson in which students analyze the chemical data that lead researchers to conclude that the K-T boundary layer contained an extraordinary concentration of iridium. 
Appropriate for: high school physics, chemistry, and earth science (all levels)

Distribution of Elements in Earth’s Crust
Teacher Materials (PDF) Student Handout (PDF)
A lesson in which students read a passage and answer questions about the information presented, testing their non-fiction reading comprehension.
Appropriate for: high school physics, chemistry, and earth science (all levels)

Calculating Iridium Fallout From an Asteroid Impact
Teacher Materials (PDF) Student Handout (PDF)
A lesson in which students calculate how much iridium was released, and eventually deposited all over the Earth, by the impact of the asteroid that caused the K-T extinction.
Appropriate for: high school physics, chemistry, and earth science (all levels)

Weighing the Evidence for a Mass Extinction—In the Ocean
Teacher Materials (PDF) Student Handout (PDF)
Foram Cards: Page 1 (PDF) Page 2 (PDF) Page 3 (PDF) Page 4 (PDF)
A hands-on activity in which students see first-hand the difference in foraminifera fossils below and above the K-T boundary.
Appropriate for: middle school life science and high school biology (all levels)

Weighing the Evidence for a Mass Extinction—On Land
Teacher Materials (PDF) Student Handout (PDF) 
A lesson in which students analyze graphs and data on pollen grains and fern spores to form a picture of the living landscape before and after the K-T mass extinction.
Appropriate for: middle school life science and high school biology (all levels)

Determining the Size and Energy of the K-T Asteroid
Teacher Materials (PDF) Student Handout (PDF)
A lesson in which students calculate the mass, size, and kinetic energy of the K-T asteroid based on the total abundance of iridium in the K-T boundary layer. These are the same types of calculations that were done by researchers who first discovered the high amount of iridium in the K-T boundary and provided key evidence for the asteroid-impact hypothesis.
Appropriate for: high school physics (AP and IB) and introductory college astronomy, earth science, and/or geology.