The History of Life on Earth
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Provided by: Crash Course|Published on: August 30, 2022
Videos
Scientist Reviewed
9101112AP
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Synopsis
- This video details the history of Earth in terms of ecology and the organisms that lived and evolved here over time.
- Students will learn about the Archaean, Proterozoic, and Phanerozoic Eons, the organisms that existed in each, changes in climate and the atmosphere, and the periods in our Eon, which includes several extinction events.

Subjects: Biology, Earth and Space Sciences, History
Authors: Crash Course
Region: Global
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Positives
- This video is incredibly informative and well organized.
- The speaker is able to deliver complex information in a way that is engaging and entertaining.
Additional Prerequisites
- Students should have some prior knowledge of biology before viewing this video.
- The video moves quickly, so you may want to pause the video periodically for students to take notes or to recap main topics.
Differentiation
- This resource could be used in a social studies class considering the "big picture" of history.
- This video would make a great introduction to ecology or a study of any of the Eons or periods discussed.
- During viewing, prompt students to create a list of questions they have or concepts they would like to learn more about. Afterward, use these lists to guide the conversation and future activities.
- Consider having students complete a defined list of vocabulary terms ahead of time and create a timeline of Earth's history that shows the different Eons for students to fill in with details while watching the video.
Scientist Notes
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
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