Have you ever heard of dinosaurs? They were amazing creatures that lived on Earth a long time ago, but now they are extinct. This means they are no longer alive. We only know about them because of their bones, which we call fossils. But dinosaurs aren’t the only ones that have disappeared. Many other plants and animals have gone extinct too. Let’s find out why!
Our world is full of different kinds of plants and animals. These groups are called species. A species is a group of living things that are similar and can have babies together. When a species can’t have babies anymore, it becomes extinct. Extinction can happen slowly over many years, but sometimes it happens really fast. This quick extinction is called mass extinction. That’s what happened to the dinosaurs about 65 million years ago when a big asteroid hit the Earth.
Species can go extinct for many reasons. Sometimes they can’t change fast enough when their environment changes. Other times, new predators come along, or they can’t find enough food. These changes usually happen slowly.
Did you know that humans can also cause extinction? When people hunt too much, destroy habitats, or bring new animals into places where they don’t belong, it can make species disappear. For example, the dodo bird went extinct because animals like pigs and cats, which humans brought to their home, ate them. Today, blue whales are in danger because people hunt them too much, and polar bears are struggling because climate change is melting their icy homes.
Plants can also become extinct, and it happens even faster than with animals. Since 1900, more than eight plant species have disappeared every three years! Cutting down forests is one reason why plants are dying out.
When a species is in danger of becoming extinct, we call it an endangered species. Some animals that are endangered today include the giant panda, mountain gorilla, black rhinoceros, and Bengal tiger. It’s important to help these animals so they don’t disappear forever.
Even though extinction is a natural part of life, there are things you can do to help! You can recycle, save energy, plant a garden, or even sponsor an endangered animal. These small actions can make a big difference.
True or False: Mass extinction happens slowly over a long period of time.
False: Mass extinction happens quickly over a short period of time, like what happened to the dinosaurs.
Fill in the blank: One simple way you can help prevent animal extinction is by planting a ______ garden.
Which has a higher rate of extinction, plants or animals?
Plants.
True or False: Climate change can be a cause of extinction.
True.
What is a species called if it is in danger of becoming extinct?
Endangered species.
Great job! Remember, you can make a difference by taking small steps to help protect our planet’s plants and animals. Share what you’ve learned with your friends, and together, we can make the world a better place for all living things.
**Sanitized Transcript:**
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**Extinction for Kids**
There are many kinds of plants and animals that used to exist on Earth but are no longer alive today; they are extinct, like dinosaurs. Today, the only things we have left of dinosaurs are bones or fossils, and the same is true for thousands of other species. So, what happened to them, and why do plants and animals go extinct in the first place? Let’s find out!
The world is full of different plant and animal species, which are groups of living organisms that share common traits and can reproduce with each other. When a species is no longer able to reproduce, it becomes extinct. Extinction usually happens slowly over a long period of time, but sometimes it can happen very quickly over a short period. This is called mass extinction, and that is what happened to the dinosaurs about 65 million years ago. Most scientists believe that nearly all of the species that had been alive on Earth, including the dinosaurs, disappeared at the same time because of a large asteroid that collided with the Earth.
There are also species that have become extinct when they lose their ability to adapt to changes in the environment, face new predators, or no longer have access to the food they need to survive. This kind of extinction takes place slowly over a long period of time.
Here’s a fascinating fact: humans can be a direct cause of extinction. Behaviors like overhunting, habitat destruction, and moving non-native species into an area where they are not usually found are the main ways this happens. For example, the dodo bird died out because it became food for non-native species like pigs and cats, which were moved by humans into the dodo’s habitat. Today, blue whales are facing extinction because humans are overhunting them. Polar bears are also threatened with dying out because climate change is affecting their habitat.
Plants also face extinction and at a much faster rate than animals. In fact, more than eight plant species have disappeared every three years on average since the year 1900. That is a much faster extinction rate than that of animals. Human activities like cutting down forests or deforestation contribute to these plants dying out.
The types of animals and plants in danger of becoming extinct are called endangered species. When a species is endangered, they may soon die out and no longer exist. Some endangered species today include the giant panda, mountain gorilla, black rhinoceros, Bengal tiger, and many others.
Even though there will always be animals and plants that become extinct, there are definitely some ways that you can help prevent it. Simple things like recycling, saving energy, planting a garden, or sponsoring an endangered animal can help prevent the extinction of some species in the world. Cool, right?
Now that you know more about extinction and its causes, let’s review:
**True or False:** Mass extinction happens slowly over a long period of time.
**False:** Mass extinction happens quickly over a short period of time, like what happened to the dinosaurs.
**Fill in the blank:** One simple way you can help prevent animal extinction is by planting a ______ garden.
**Which has a higher rate of extinction, plants or animals?**
**Plants.**
**True or False:** Climate change can be a cause of extinction.
**True.**
**What is a species called if it is in danger of becoming extinct?**
**Endangered species.**
Great job! Extinction will always be a part of life on Earth, but there are small, simple things you can do every day to help prevent the extinction of some species. The next time you admire the plants outside or visit animals at the zoo, remember what you’ve learned and share it with your friends. Together, we can make the world a better, happier place for every living thing.
Hope you had fun learning with us! Visit us at learnbright.org for thousands of free resources and turnkey solutions for teachers and homeschoolers.
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