EXTINCT AND

ENDANGERED ANIMALS

Teacher Guidelines ▶ pages 1 – 2

Instructional Pages ▶ pages 3 – 5

5-6
Activity Page ▶ page 6
Practice Page ▶ page 7
GRADE Homework Page
Answer Key
▶
▶
page 8
pages 9 – 10
 Classroom Procedure:
1. Display one image of an animal with an abundant population,
one endangered, and one extinct animal. Ask: What is
the difference between the animals?
2. Allow for responses and discussion. Many students will
recognize the extinct animal is “no longer living”. Lead
the discussion to the difference between endangered and
extinct versus the populous animal.
3. Distribute Extinct and Endangered Animals content pages.
Read and review the information with the students. Display
the WWF website shown in the additional resources listing
the various endangered animals. Use the additional
resources to enhance understanding.
4. Distribute Activity pages. Read and review the instructions.
Distribute supplies and allow access to the Internet for
images of the endangered animals. Give students sufficient
time to complete their drawings and list a few facts about
each animal.
5. Once completed, students will share at least one of their
animals along with some facts about the animal.
6. Distribute Practice page. Check and review the students’
responses.
7. Distribute the Homework page. The next day, check and
review the students’ responses. Spend extra time on Q.
8 – 10.
8. In closing, ask: Which of the endangered animals is one
of your favorites? What would you do to help save it?
9. Allow for responses and discussion.
10. Close the lesson showing one of the videos from the
additional resources.
Approximate Grade Level: 5 – 6
Objectives:The students will be able to define
extinct and endangered, explain the difference
between each, and identify some extinct and
endangered animals.
State Educational Standards*
NGSS.MS-LS4-1
NGSS.MS-ESS1-4
NGSS.MS-ESS3-3
Class Sessions (45 minutes):
At least 2 class sessions.
Teaching Materials/Worksheets:
Extinct and Endangered Animals content pages
(2), Activity page, Practice page, Homework
page
Student Supplies: Access individually or as
a class to the following web site: https://www.
worldwildlife.org/species/directory?direction=-
desc&sort=extinction_status , colored pencils,
construction paper or similar drawing paper,
handouts
Prepare Ahead of Time: Website access for
students during the lesson and for the activity.
Activity supplies. Copy handouts.
Options for Lesson: Students may work in pairs
for the activity. Assign students three animals
instead of giving them an option for the activity.
List about 5 of the most popular endangered ani-
mals, students vote on their favorite. As a class,
“adopt” one of the endangered animals through
the WWF. Plan an “Endangered Animal Week”,
each day focused on a different animal. Create a
class booklet of the activity animals. Invite a con-
servationist to the class to speak to the students
about what they could do to help the planet.
*Lessons are aligned to meet the education objectives and goals of
most states. For more information on your state objectives, contact
your local Board of Education or Department of Education in your state.
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 Teacher Notes
The lesson introduces students to extinct and endangered animals and the differences between each category.
Most students at this level become engaged in lessons related to animals. As the list of endangered animals
change from year to year, it may be necessary to update information related to endangered animals in the
content pages. The extinct animals most students know about, of course, are the dinosaurs. The World
Wildlife Fund organization has a list of endangered animals which is used for the lesson: https://www.
worldwildlife.org/species/directory?direction=desc&sort=extinction_status
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Extinct and Endangered Animals
EXTINCT ANIMALS
Have you ever seen a real-life dinosaur? Unless you are 65 million years
old, the answer is no. There are no more dinosaurs living on Earth. At one
time, there were living, breathing dinosaurs wandering the Earth. Today, they
are gone or extinct. Extinct means there is no longer a certain kind of plant
or animal living anywhere in the world.
A species is a certain group of living organisms, like dinosaurs, humans, birds,
and many others. A species that becomes extinct has died out. Scientists
believe many organisms, along with the dinosaurs, died out when a large
asteroid collided with the Earth. The collision caused a mass extinction,
which occurs at a faster rate over a very short period of time.

However, extinction usually takes place over a longer time.

REASONS FOR EXTINCTION EXAMPLES

• Climate change occurred during the Ice Age when the
Naturally temperature of the Earth was lower

Animals do not adapt to natural • Species may be eliminated by new predators that move
changes in the environment. into their environment
• The food needed to survive may no longer be available
Besides dinosaurs, another extinct animal was the wooly mammoth, related to the elephant, which died
out 10,000 years ago due to climate change and the disappearance of its habitat.

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 REASONS FOR EXTINCTION EXAMPLES
• Animal’s environment is destroyed by pollution or
construction, such as destroying parts of a rainforest
Human Interaction
• Humans may overhunt wiping out an entire species
Hunting and habitat destruction
• Moving of non-native species into an area where they are
not usually found

The Dodo bird became extinct due to overhunting and other animals moving into its environment. The
passenger pigeon died out due to the destruction of its habitat, as well as overhunting.

Throughout history, many animals have become extinct due to several reasons, but today there are many
animals that are in danger of becoming extinct, mostly due to human causes. When this happens, the
animals are said to be endangered.

ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Endangered means a plant or animal is at risk of becoming extinct. This occurs when the population of a
certain animal is so low, that they are in danger of dying out forever and becoming extinct.
The reasons for an animal to become endangered are mostly the same as for those that have become extinct.
There are many animals in the world today that are on the endangered species list.
Some are so in danger of becoming extinct, they can only be found in a zoo. Here are just some of the many
endangered animals in the world.

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 ENDANGERED ANIMAL INFORMATION ABOUT
The black rhino is found in Africa. Hunting led to the decline of the rhino
Black Rhino
population. Today, there are fewer than 5,000 of them left in the world.
The orangutan is found in the Asian country of Malaysia. They are highly
Orangutan intelligent and are part of the ape family. The loss of their habitat has led to
their decline, as well as being easy targets for hunters.
This wild tiger is found mostly in India. Only about 2,500 of them survive in the
Bengal Tiger wild and have become endangered due to its habitat loss. The forest where
they lived have been cleared for the development of roads.
It is the largest animal in the world with a population of just 10 to 25,000
Blue Whale found in the Gulf of California and a few other places. They are threatened by
climate change, habitat loss, and poisonous substances in the water.
Found in the Galápagos Islands located in the Pacific Ocean. Their numbers
Sea Lions have been reduced due to climate change, loss of food, and non-native
species being introduced, such as dogs spreading diseases to the species.

Other endangered animals include the giant panda, mountain gorilla, chimpanzee, and many others.
There will always be animals and plants that may become extinct, but doing simple things like recycling,
saving energy, planting a garden or sponsoring an endangered animal can help prevent extinction of some
species in the world.

Which of the endangered animals is one of your

favorites? What would you do to help save it?

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 Activity Name __________________________ Date _________

Instructions
1. Supplies: Internet access, drawing/construction paper, colored pencils
2. Choose three animals from the endangered species list. Explore the page related to the animal.
3. In the space below, answer each question about the animal.
4. Using the construction or drawing paper, sketch a picture of the animal.
5. On each page, include the information from below matching it to the animal.
6. Once completed, you will share the image and the information about one animal with the class.
Animal: 1. 2. 3.

Questions:
What is the population
of the animal in the
world today?

Where is the animal

found in the world?

What are the animal’s

habitats?

What is causing the

animal to become
extinct?

Write 3 interesting
facts about the
animal:

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 Practice Name __________________________ Date _________

Match the description to the correct term.

1 _____ No longer a certain kind of plant or animal living in the world. A Endangered
2 _____ A certain group of living organisms. B Extinction
3 _____ A fast rate of animal loss in a short time-period. C Organisms
4 _____ A plant or animal at risk of dying out forever. D Mass extinction
5 _____ All the plants and animals in the world. E Species

Match the fact with the endangered animal it represents.

6 _____ Galápagos Islands animal, diseases spread by dogs A Bengal Tiger

7 _____ Part of the ape family, highly intelligent, hunted B Black Rhino
8 _____ Found in India, habitat cleared for building roads C Blue Whale
9 _____ Fewer than 5,000 remain, found in Africa D Orangutan
10 _____ Largest animal in the world, threatened by climate change E Sea Lions

Match the example with the type of reason for extinction.

11 _____ Pollution from factories causes species to die out A Naturally

12 _____ Climate change and the lower temperature of the earth B Human Interaction
13 _____ New predators move into an area
14 _____ Over-hunting by ocean fisherman results in endangered fish
15 _____ Food is no longer available for an animal
16 _____ Forests are cut down to make room for roads and houses
17 _____ Volcano or earthquake kills off a species
18 _____ Animals from one habitat are moved into another habitat
19 _____ Poisons from manufacturing is released into the environment
20 _____ Asteroid collides with the earth

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 Homework Name __________________________ Date _________

Decide whether each animal is extinct (X) or endangered (E).

Wooly Mammoth Black Rhino
Bengal Tiger Dodo Bird
Orangutan Tyrannosaurus Rex or T-Rex
Passenger Pigeon Sea Lion
Saber-Toothed Tiger Blue Whale

Fill in the blanks using the word bank.

species humans asteroid recycling natural
1. The dinosaurs most likely became extinct when an _____________ collided with the Earth.
2. When animals may possibly die out, they are placed on the endangered _____________ list.
3. Sometimes animals do not adapt to _____________ changes in their environment.
4. Interaction by _____________ is the biggest cause of animal endangerment today.
5. Doing simple things like _____________ and saving energy could help prevent extinction.

Answer each question.

6. About how many years ago did dinosaurs become extinct?

7. About how many years ago did the dodo bird become extinct?

8. Do you think an extinct animal could live again? Why or why not?

9. There are many pets in the world like cats and dogs. What do you think could cause cats or dogs to be
added to the endangered species list?

10. Name three specific things you can do to help the environment and prevent animals from becoming
extinct?

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 Practice Answer Key
Name __________________________ Date _________

Match the description to the correct term.

B No longer a certain kind of plant or animal living in the world.

1 _____ A Endangered
E A certain group of living organisms.
2 _____ B Extinction
D A fast rate of animal loss in a short time-period.
3 _____ C Organisms
A A plant or animal at risk of dying out forever.
4 _____ D Mass extinction
C All the plants and animals in the world.
5 _____ E Species

Match the fact with the endangered animal it represents.

E Galápagos Islands animal, diseases spread by dogs

6 _____ A Bengal Tiger
D Part of the ape family, highly intelligent, hunted
7 _____ B Black Rhino
A Found in India, habitat cleared for building roads
8 _____ C Blue Whale
B Fewer than 5,000 remain, found in Africa
9 _____ D Orangutan
C Largest animal in the world, threatened by climate change
10 _____ E Sea Lions

Match the example with the type of reason for extinction.

B Pollution from factories causes species to die out

11 _____ A Naturally
A Climate change and the lower temperature of the earth
12 _____ B Human Interaction
A New predators move into an area
13 _____
B Over-hunting by ocean fisherman results in endangered fish
14 _____
A Food is no longer available for an animal
15 _____
B Forests are cut down to make room for roads and houses
16 _____
A Volcano or earthquake kills off a species
17 _____
B Animals from one habitat are moved into another habitat
18 _____
B Poisons from manufacturing is released into the environment
19 _____
A Asteroid collides with the earth
20 _____

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 Homework Answer Key
Name __________________________ Date _________

Decide whether each animal is extinct (X) or endangered (E).

X Wooly Mammoth E Black Rhino
E Bengal Tiger X Dodo Bird
E Orangutan X Tyrannosaurus Rex or T-Rex
X Passenger Pigeon E Sea Lion
X Saber-Toothed Tiger E Blue Whale

Fill in the blanks using the word bank.

species humans asteroid recycling natural
1. The dinosaurs most likely became extinct when an asteroid collided with the Earth.
2. When animals may possibly die out, they are placed on the endangered species list.
3. Sometimes animals do not adapt to natural changes in their environment.
4. Interaction by humans is the biggest cause of animal endangerment today.
5. Doing simple things like recycling and saving energy could help prevent extinction.

Answer each question.

6. About how many years ago did dinosaurs become extinct? 65 million
7. About how many years ago did the Dodo bird become extinct? 10,000
8. Do you think an extinct animal could live again? Why or why not? No, not likely since extinct means no
longer living, unless a cloned version is created. (May vary.)
9. There are many pets in the world like cats and dogs. What do you think could cause cats or dogs to be
added to the endangered species list? (May vary.)
10. Name three specific things you can do to help the environment and prevent animals from becoming
extinct? (May vary.) Use less water, use recyclable materials, save energy by turning off lights when not
needed, sponsor an endangered animal, etc.

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