Have you ever imagined swimming with the biggest shark that ever lived? Meet the Megalodon, a prehistoric shark that was as long as two school buses! Scientists believe it ruled the oceans for millions of years—but today, it’s completely extinct. What happened to this incredible predator?

Spark Your Learning!

1. Set up your Science Mini Spark recording page: #44 Megalodon: Why Did the Giant Shark Go Extinct?

2. Before learning about Megalodon, answer these questions.

1. What do you already know about sharks?
2. How do you think an animal as large as Megalodon survived?
3. Why do you think giant animals sometimes become extinct?

3. Read the National Geographic Kids article: Megalodon Facts

As you read, write down:

• Three amazing facts about Megalodon.
• Two ways Megalodon was different from today’s great white shark.
• One question you still have.

4. Watch the video: Why Did Megalodon Go Extinct?

While watching, record evidence that answers these questions:

• What changes happened in Earth’s oceans?
• How did climate change affect Megalodon?
• Why did food become harder to find?
• What new predators competed with Megalodon?
• Which reason do scientists think was the biggest cause of extinction?

5. Draw a size comparison showing:

• You
• A great white shark
• A Megalodon

Label the approximate lengths of each.

6. Turn your completed Mini Spark into your teacher or EY Coordinator.

Check out the Shark Study badge at the EY Website.

Learn about the myth of Dakuwaqa in this Language Arts mini spark.

Animals move in incredible ways! Some slither, some leap, some glide through the air, and some even roll like wheels. These unique movements help animals find food, escape predators, and survive in their environments. In this Mini Spark, you will explore several animals with unusual ways of moving and discover how their special adaptations help them travel.

Spark Your Learning!

1. Set up your Mini Spark recording page: Science Mini Spark #42 Amazing Animal Movers. What is the most unusual way you have ever seen an animal move?

2. Watch this video about how snakes move. Record the 4 ways of movement and 2 detilas about each one.

3. Record these these 5 animals names and their unusual movements:

• Mantis Shrimp – Rolling
• Paradise Tree Snake – Aerial Gliding
• Sea Pig – Hydraulic Walking
• Springtail – Bouncing and Leaping
• Cuban Crocodile – Ground Galloping

4. Read about each animal and write record how the animals’ unique locomotion helps protect the animal.

Rolling — Mantis Shrimp The animal: Some small mantis shrimp living in sandy coastal areas. How it moves: When threatened and far from its burrow, the mantis shrimp flips onto its back and uses strong tail and body motions to somersault along the sand. This rolling motion acts like a wheel and lets the shrimp travel faster across loose sand than by normal crawling. Rolling reduces the time it stays exposed to predators.

Aerial Gliding — Paradise Tree Snake The animal: The paradise tree snake, found in trees across Southeast Asia. How it moves: This snake launches itself from high branches, flattens its body, and forms an S-shaped curve. By changing its body shape it produces lift and can glide through the air for long distances (sometimes 20 meters or more). It steers by bending and twisting its body to land safely on another tree or avoid obstacles.

Hydraulic Walking — Sea Pig The animal: Sea pigs, a type of deep-sea sea cucumber that lives on the ocean floor. How it moves: Sea pigs walk using long, tube-like feet. Instead of contracting muscles in the feet, they change water pressure inside their body to inflate and deflate the tube feet. This hydraulic system lets them lift and move each foot to “walk” slowly across the muddy seafloor while they search for food.

Bouncing and Leaping — Springtail The animal: Springtails, tiny hexapods that live in soil, leaf litter, and moss. How it moves: Springtails have a folded forked appendage called a furcula under their abdomen. When triggered, the furcula snaps downward like a spring, launching the animal high into the air in a quick jump. This catapult-like action helps springtails escape predators and move between small habitat patches.

Ground Galloping — Cuban Crocodile The animal: The Cuban crocodile, which is more terrestrial than many other crocodile species. How it moves: With relatively long, strong limbs and a muscular body, the Cuban crocodile can run on land in short bursts. It uses leaping and bounding motions that look like galloping to move faster across beaches and dry ground. This agility helps it chase prey and move between water and land.

5. Answer this question on your recording page. Which animal movement would be the most useful for a human to have? Explain your answer using evidence from your research.

6. Submit your completed Mini Spark notebook pages to your teacher or EY Coordinator.

Look for the the snake mini spark and snaket badge and the EY website.