Home >> Science & Nature >> Animals & Science

Games on Extinction for Kids

As children begin to study science and nature more in depth, they will learn that some species, or specific types of animals and plants, became extinct. Environmental changes typically cause extinction. When conditions change, some species can adapt and even thrive, while others do not survive. A good example is the dinosaurs. As they became extinct, mammals adapted and took their place to become the dominant animals on Earth. To teach species extinction, introduce games about it to your kids.

Dinosaur Games
- Preschool and younger elementary school children often respond very well to extinction games about dinosaurs. Simple puzzles and word finding games appear in word game books and online worksheets. Dinosaur coloring activities work well for young children, and simple video games with dinosaurs from websites such as PBS and The Children's Museum of Indianapolis offer games for children about eight years and younger.
Board Games
- Children from the ages eight and up may enjoy playing a board game about extinction. Board games let children use their skills to win the game, while learning about the subject. "Extinction: The Game of Ecology" first appeared in 1970. Players act as the head of their animal species and must make decisions that affects their survival, like looking for prey and reproducing. You might also find a copy of "The Dinosaur Game," in which players pretend to be dinosaurs to survive in prehistoric times. These Board games are available at local toy stores and online merchants, such as Amazon or Board Game Geek.
Role Playing Games
- Older children learn about ecology and extinction through role playing games. In Creative Learning Exchange's "The Mammoth Extinction Game," students roll dice to determine the actions of their herds. Each number they roll corresponds to actions, such as moving and giving birth. Students track the movements on graphs and also use a computer modeling program with the game. The entire game appeared on a 1997 "Newton's Apple" TV segment from PBS. "Will I Survive?" from the Institute of Education, University of London's website is another role playing game where students explore why plants become extinct. Children receive roles of the plant and pick up nutrient resource cards that state what happens to them. Afterwards, students create a narrative about the results.
Puzzles
- Puzzles appeal to younger and older children depending on the level of difficulty. Younger children may put together jigsaw puzzles about extinct animals. Jigsaw puzzles with more pieces work well for older children. Also, jigsaw puzzles appear as video games from different websites. Older students may work on extinct animal skeleton puzzles to piece together animals such as the Dodo bird or a Tyrannosaurus rex out of wooden pieces.

Animals & Science