Over half a billion years ago there was an explosion of life on Earth, the Cambrian Explosion, when most major animal groups first appeared in the fossil record. Go behind the scenes of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History with paleontologist Karma Nanglu to explore fossils from this time period and learn how and why scientists study these fossils to understand life on Earth today. Karma will give your students a chance to compare fossils with their modern relatives to make predictions themselves, particularly using specimens he studies called hemichordates. Karma will reveal how studying and understanding these worms, both from modern oceans and from 500 million years ago, helps us to better understand our own evolutionary past. Watch Here: https://naturalhistory.si.edu/education/distance-learning/cambrian-explosion-life-paleontologist-karma-nanglu Throughout the broadcast, Karma will take questions from your students via text chat and there will be opportunities for students to share what they think using live polls. This webcast supports learning standards in Life Science and Earth Science. About Smithsonian Science How Webcasts These free, interactive, TV-style webcast programs will introduce your elementary school students to core science concepts through the lens of Smithsonian research and experts, providing students with positive STEM role models and a connection to science in their lives. The shows air live twice each day, and provide opportunities for your students to interact via live polls and Q&A with the scientist. |