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How Did Plants Change Our Planet?

Grade Level(s):

  • 3-5
  • 6-8
  • 9-12

Source:

  • California Academy of Sciences

Resource type:

  • Video

Time: 5 minutes

Overview

Botanist Dr. Nathalie Nagalingum explains how, more than 400 million years ago, early plants played a notable role in adjusting Earth's physical surface as well as our planet's climate. She meets with paleobotanist Dr. Cindy Looy to discuss the evidence that scientists currently have to support her story.

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  • [History of life: Grades 3-5] Life has been on Earth for billions of years.
  • [History of life: Grades 3-5] Life forms have changed over time. (LS4.A)
  • [History of life: Grades 3-5] Many forms of life in the past were different from living things today. (LS4.A)
  • [History of life: Grades 3-5] Many forms of life in the past were similar to present-day living things. (LS4.A)
  • [History of life: Grades 3-5] Present-day life forms are related to past life forms. (LS4.A)
  • [History of life: Grades 6-8] Life forms of the past were in some ways very different from living forms of today, but in other ways very similar. (LS4.A)
  • [History of life: Grades 6-8] Present-day life forms are descended from past life forms; all life is related. (LS4.A)
  • [History of life: Grades 9-12] Life forms of the past were in some ways very different from living forms of today, but in other ways very similar. (LS4.A)
  • [Evidence of evolution: Grades 6-8] Fossils provide evidence of past life. (LS4.A)
  • [Evidence of evolution: Grades 6-8] There are similarities and differences among fossils and living organisms. (LS4.A)
  • [Evidence of evolution: Grades 9-12] The fossil record provides evidence for evolution.
  • [Evidence of evolution: Grades 9-12] There are similarities and differences among fossils and living organisms.
  • [Nature of science: Grades 3-5] Scientists base their ideas on evidence from the natural world. (P3, P6, P7, NOS8)
  • [Studying evolution: Grades 3-5] Scientists study living things and how they are related.
  • [Studying evolution: Grades 3-5] Scientists study fossils and how and when they were formed. (LS4.A)
  • [Studying evolution: Grades 6-8] Scientists use fossils to learn about past life. (LS4.A, ESS1.C)
  • [Studying evolution: Grades 9-12] Scientists use fossils (including sequences of fossils showing gradual change over time) to learn about past life.
  • Disciplinary Core Idea LS4.A: Evidence of Common Ancestry and Diversity
  • Disciplinary Core Idea ESS1.C: The History of Planet Earth
  • NOS Matrix understanding category 8. Science addresses questions about the natural and material world.
  • Science and Engineering Practice 3. Planning and carrying out investigations
  • Science and Engineering Practice 6. Constructing explanations and designing solutions
  • Science and Engineering Practice 7. Engaging in argument from evidence
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