Finding the Crater

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Topic

Resource Type

Level

High School — General
Used In
1 BioInteractive Playlists
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Description

This activity supports concepts covered in the film The Day the Mesozoic Died. Students will analyze geological evidence from 10 different sites around the world to predict the location of the asteroid impact that caused the mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous Period.

This hands-on activity requires students to “visit” different K–T boundary sites, evaluate the evidence at each site, find these sites on a map, and predict where the crater is located. It tests a diverse set of skills, including mapping, mathematical scaling, and interpretation of mixed visual, graphic, and textual evidence.

Student Learning Targets

  • Interpret stratigraphic diagrams to identify the different types of rocks and deposits found in rock layers.

  • Plot longitude and latitude on a world map.

  • Make claims based on geological evidence.

Estimated Time

One to two 50-minute class periods.

Key Terms

breccia, ejecta, foraminifera, iridium, nickel-rich spinels, shocked quartz, spherule, stratigraphic diagram, tektite

Terms of Use

Please see the Terms of Use for information on how this resource can be used.

Accessibility Level (WCAG compliance)

PDF files meet criteria. Other file types meet criteria.

Version History

Date Published
Date Updated

NGSS (2013)

HS-ESS1-6; SEP4

AP Biology (2019)

SYI-2.C; SP3, SP4

Vision and Change (2009)

CC5; DP1

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Finding the Crater

Bernice O'Brien describes how she uses the "Finding the Crater" activity to allow her students to build scientific claims from real-world evidence.
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This Resource Appears in the Following Playlists

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