The Climate Clues Found in LA's Natural History Museum Specimens
Provided by: The Kid Should See This|Published on: April 27, 2021|Last updated: September 26, 2026
Grades: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Type: Articles/Websites
Subjects: Social Studies, Biology
Authors: The Kid Should See This, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
Location: North America, North America > United States, North America > United States > California
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This video features scientists at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County discussing how fossils, specimens, and artifacts at the museum show climate history. The museum uses this information to answer questions about climate change today.
- Students will learn about scientists who specialize in plants, marine life, birds, and humans.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- A short article links to several interesting sources.
- Students will enjoy seeing the museum's fossils and specimens as the scientists discuss them.
Additional Prerequisites
- Students should be familiar with concepts such as endangered species, habitat loss, sea level rise, and ocean acidification.
Differentiation
- Biology classes could use this video to show the effects of climate change on ecosystems and species.
- Psychology, sociology, anthropology, or history classes could discuss why humans from the past behaved differently, and sometimes more violently, in reaction to changes in the climate. Students could debate whether or not the phenomenon persists in today's world.
- Other resources on this topic include this Khan Academy video on extinction, this interactive map on the habitats of endangered species, and this video on saving the world's coral reefs.
This resource is a 12-minute video produced by the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County. It is an excellent example of how current scientists are using information from fossils and tar pits to piece together the climates of the past. The science in the video is explained articulately and tangibly. This resource is recommended for teaching.
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.
Learn about our review process →
