Easter Island Discussion
Julie Barker
8-2.7: Summarize the factors, both natural and man-made, that can contribute to the extinction of
a species.
Materials

The article “Easter’s End” by Diamond Jared in Discover; Aug 1995; 16, 8; Research
Library pg. 62-69

Videos found at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbPoebPPCGo&feature=related (showed in
entirety)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PW2D3xZSUYs&feature=related (showed until
6:26)
Procedures
1. This discussion was completed at the end of the Earth’s Biological History Unit.
2. The first three paragraphs were read aloud to the class as an introduction to Easter Island.
3. Next, the videos were shown.
4. The discussion was started by reading allowed the last seven paragraphs.
5. Students were then prompted with the following questions
- Why didn’t they look around and realize what they were doing?
- What were they thinking when they cut down the last tree?
- How were scientists able to solve the mystery?
- Why is it important that we understand what happened in the past on this remote
island?
6. Finally students were asked to write a reflection on how our world relates to Easter Island
and what should we do about it? These answers were shared and discussed.