Extinction! Safari

Student Activities

Introduction (as a class) (1 min)

Introduce students to the lesson with the following: ‘Welcome to the Extinction! Safari - a rollercoaster through extinction history. You are now about to witness some of the most charismatic species that have lived alongside humans but are no longer roaming the Earth. It was recently revealed that the Earth is experiencing a ‘biodiversity crisis’ - speak to biodiversity expert Prof. Andy to find out your challenge and start your adventure.’

Minecraft Extinction Safari (explore as individuals or as a class) (35 mins)

Ask students to meet Prof. Andy, add a minecart to their inventory and jump on to the minecart on the track. They can take their own individual journey on their own time or you can lead them and discuss each species at the individual platforms.

Note: if students fall off the rollercoaster they can climb up platform ladders.

Ask students to study each of the extinct species, exploring the displays and speaking to the scientists at each species. Students should take notes on what they learn and observe at each of the species. Students can use the in-game minecraft ‘camera,’ ‘portfolio,’ and ‘book & quill’ to record the information, making sure to include the following aspects of each species:

• Their key physical features
• When they went extinct
• The reasons why they think they went extinct
• Are they similar to any species alive today and if so how?
• Are the risks experienced by animals today similar to this species and have they changed?
• Once students have taken notes and photos, ask them to move on to the next species.

The  ‘Extinction! Rollercoaster Safari Teacher Guide’ (found in Supporting Files) will assist you with information on all of the extinct species featured.

In-class exercise and discussion (15 mins)

Once students have reached the end of the rollercoaster, ask them to review their notes and discuss:

• What kind of species have gone extinct and what are the common themes?
• What can we learn from past extinctions and is species extinction still an issue today?
• How might extinction and the biodiversity crisis affect you personally?

Ask the students to think about who is responsible for the extinction and who and how should do something about it? How can you reduce your impact on the biodiversity crisis? (e.g., be greener, more sustainable).