EXTREME SURVIVORS: Lesson Plans

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Best Audience: Children Grades 01-05

 

ABOUT THE LESSON PLANS

Science writer and award-winning STEM author, Kimberly Ridley profiles ten amazing animals that appear to have changed little in more than 100 million years.

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ABOUT THE BOOK

Extreme Survivors:
Animals That Time Forgot
By Kimberly Ridley
Published by Tilbury House Publishers
Series: How Nature Works Series
ISBN-13: 9780884485001
Age Range: 7 – 12 Years

2018 Bank Street College of Education
Best STEM Children’s Books of the Year

What do the goblin shark, horseshoe crab, the “indestructible” water bear, and a handful of other bizarre animals have in common? They are all “extreme survivors,” animals that still look much like their prehistoric ancestors from millions of years ago.

Meet ten amazing animals that appear to have changed little in more than 100 million years. They are the rare exceptions to the rule. More than 99 percent of all life forms have gone extinct during the 3.6-billion-year history of life on Earth. Other organisms have changed dramatically, but not our extreme survivors. Evolution may have altered their physiology and behavior, but their body plans have stood the test of time.

How have these living links with Earth’s prehistoric past survived? The search for answers is leading scientists to new discoveries about the past—and future—of life on Earth. The survival secrets of some of these ancient creatures could lead to new medicines and treatments for disease.

Written in a lively, entertaining voice, Extreme Survivors provides detailed life histories and strange “survival secrets” of ten ancient animals and explains evolution and natural selection. Extensive back matter includes glossary, additional facts and geographic range for each organism and a geologic timeline of Earth.

“Highly recommended, especially for school and public library children’s nonfiction collections.”
—Children’s Book Watch
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“Winning close-ups of a roly-poly tardigrade (530 million years) and luridly snaggle-toothed goblin sharks (125 million years) lead off a spectacular suite of photos to which the author adds pithy descriptive comments and reflections on evolutionary processes, plus insights into just how these survivalists might have endured when 99 percent of all other life forms have gone extinct. Humans (200,000 years), represented here by a picture of a racially diverse group of children, are a long way from demonstrating similar longevity. Perspective-building intros to some of our most ancient relatives.”
—Kirkus Reviews