(Recorded Course) Megafauna! Before, During, and After the Dinosaurs with MacBeth Derham

Join us as we explore the BIG creatures that have inhabited the Earth– from giant dragonflies to the fearsome Megalodon to the blue whale. Why do creatures become extinct, and why do some survive? And why are some so big?

How to get the most out of Megafauna! Before, During, and After the Dinosaurs with MacBeth Derham

  • First, read the course materials below before the first class meeting, if assigned.

  • Then have a notebook ready and available for class notes each session.

  • Watch the class recording.

  • Do the assignments, quizzes, and any extra work assigned for that session

  • Once the course is completed to the parent's satisfaction, there is a Certificate of Completion at the end to be filled in for your records

Total number of class meetings: 12

Duration of each class: 45 minutes

Prerequisite: None

Suggested grade level: 6th to 8th grade

Suggested credit: One full semester Life Science

Instructor: MacBeth Derham

Instructor email: macbethderham@gmail.com

Course description: Most of the creatures we encounter are rather small compared to creatures from the past. During this course, we will examine some of the huge creatures of the past and look at the giants still in existence. We will discuss the theories about the lives of the large and consider possible causes of extinction.

Course outline:

Class 1: Introduction to Geological time periods
Class 2: Big Invertebrates of the past—and present?
Class 3: Get a backbone! Big sharks and armored fish
Class 4: Halfway: Giant amphibians
Class 5: Life on land: Totally terrestrial reptiles
Class 6: How big can they get?
Class 7: Dino or bird? The feathered giants
Class 8: Things in caves: Mega mammals of Eurasia
Class 9: Still bigger: Mega mammals of Africa
Class 10: High hoppers? Mega Mammals of Australia
Class 11: Mammoth proportions: Mega mammals of North America
Class 12: Today’s biggest is THE biggest!

Course materials: Reading provided by Mrs. Derham and available on the Moodle site. A supplementary reading list will be available.

Homework: Class quizzes, assigned reading.