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Out of the Ashes: Dawn of the Age of Mammals

Topic

  • Evolution
  • Paleobiology
  • Extinction
  • Earth Science
  • Earth History

Resource Type

  • Videos
  • Short Films

Level

High School — GeneralHigh School — AP/IBCollege

Duration

00:16:11
Saved By
39 Users
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Description

This film explores how life recovered after an asteroid wiped out the dinosaurs and how those events shaped the diversity of plants and mammals on Earth today.

Sixty-six million years ago, a giant asteroid struck the Earth. It triggered a mass extinction that wiped out 90% of all species, including the large dinosaurs that had previously dominated the planet. This film follows paleontologists working at a fossil site near Denver, Colorado as they uncover fossils from the first one million years after the mass extinction. These fossils, along with discoveries from other sites, have allowed scientists to piece together how ecosystems gradually recovered and changed over time. Their research reveals that the void left by dinosaurs was filled by plants and animals evolving together.

An audio descriptive version of the film is available via our media player.

Key Terms

asteroid, dinosaur, concretion, fern, fossil, legume, mass extinction, paleontology, recovery, succession

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. Video files meet criteria.

Version History

Date Published 05.01.20
Date Updated 08.18.21

NGSS (2013)

HS-LS2.C, HS-LS4.C, HS-ESS1.C, HS-ESS2.A, HS-ESS2.E

AP Biology (2019)

EVO-1, EVO-2, EVO-3

IB Biology (2016)

5.1

AP Environmental Science (2020)

Topic(s): 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 9.9

IB Environmental Systems and Societies (2017)

3.2

Vision and Change (2009)

CC1, CC5

Materials

HD (M4V) 624 MB
HD (WMV) 509 MB
SD (M4V) 134 MB
SD (WMV) 138 MB
Transcript (PDF) 274 KB
Abbreviated Film Guide (PDF) 235 KB

Use This Resource With

Activity Resource
Activity for Out of the Ashes
Interactive Media Resource
Interactive Video Builder

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Photo of Barnosky and Maguire from the film
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Image of a prehistoric mammal taken from the film.
Film Activities
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Screenshot of CGI dinosaurs reacting to the asteroid strike
Film Activities
Activity for The Day the Mesozoic Died
Screen shot from the quiz
Interactive Videos
Interactive Assessment for The Day the Mesozoic Died
Title screen of the film
Short Films
The Day the Mesozoic Died
Image from the activity
Card Activities
Finding the Crater
Image from the interactive
Click & Learn
Deep History of Life on Earth
Photo of Tyler Lyson from the video
Scientists at Work
How To Find a Dinosaur
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