Describe the immediate effects of the Chicxulub impact on the surrounding area, including the formation of tektites.

The impact caused a massive shock wave, vaporized the asteroid, created a rooster tail of molten material hotter than the sun, and ejected 25 trillion metric tons of rock ash and debris into the atmosphere, forming tektites.

What evidence found at the North Dakota fossil site (Tanis) supports the Chicxulub impact theory?

The fossil site contained fish with gills clogged with tektites, along with a mix of other organisms like scorched tree trunks, insects, part of a Triceratops, and mammals, indicating a sudden and catastrophic event.

Explain how the Chicxulub impact led to long-term environmental effects that contributed to the mass extinction.

The impact caused a dust cloud that blocked sunlight, leading to the death of plants and starvation of herbivores, as well as the release of toxic gases and acid rain. It also released massive amounts of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and methane.

What is the K-Pg boundary, and what is its significance in understanding the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event?

The K-Pg boundary is a layer of clay packed with iridium, marking the end of the Cretaceous Period and the beginning of the Paleogene. It provides evidence of an asteroid impact and is found in rock layers dating back 66 million years ago.

Chicxulub and the K-Pg Extinction

9th GradeScience120 min

aligned to Ngss Hs-ess1-6

Learning Objective

I can describe the evidence that supports the Chicxulub impact as the cause of the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event.

Lesson Flow

Watch Video

11 min

A Breakdown of the Asteroid That Wiped Out the Dinosaurs

Weird History

Guided Notes

24 min

Key concepts students will learn:

•
The Chicxulub asteroid, approximately 6 miles wide, slammed into the coast of Mexico about 66 million years ago.
•
The impact of the asteroid created a shock wave that ruptured lungs within a 1500 mile radius and produced energy equivalent to 100 trillion tons of TNT.
•
The impact sent molten debris, called tektites, into the atmosphere, triggering earthquakes as high as 11 on the Richter scale and leading to volcanic eruptions.

Practice

36 min

12 questions • Multiple choice & Short answer

Exit Ticket

5 min

“Describe two pieces of evidence mentioned in the video that support the theory that the Chicxulub impact caused the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event.”

Teacher Guide

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Answer keys for all questions
Differentiation strategies
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Chicxulub and the K-Pg Extinction

Learning Objective

Lesson Flow

Watch Video

Guided Notes

Practice

Exit Ticket

Teacher Guide

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