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The K-Pg Extinction Event

Your child knows what likely killed the dinosaurs. About 66 million years ago, a huge asteroid hit Earth. Its crater in Mexico is one piece of evidence.

In curriculum terms

Describe the Cretaceous–Palaeogene (K-Pg) extinction event approximately 66 million years ago, including the asteroid impact theory and its evidence (iridium layer, Chicxulub crater), and understand that this ended the reign of non-avian dinosaurs

Ages are typical, not deadlines — follow your child’s pace. How to help at home →

How to tell they’ve got it

Tick these off as you see them — no test required.

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Try this together

Can your child explain what scientists think caused the dinosaurs to go extinct — and describe at least one piece of evidence for the asteroid theory?

Where this sits on the map

Stuck here? Check the skills it builds on first. Confident? Here’s what it unlocks.

Builds on
Dinosaurs Were Realages 5–7Must understand extinction concept before learning about the K-Pg extinction event
The Mesozoic Eraages 7–9Must know the Cretaceous period before understanding the Cretaceous-Palaeogene boundary
The K-Pg Extinction Eventthis skill · ages 9–11
Unlocks
Mass Extinctions in Earth Historyages 12–14Advanced K-Pg extinction analysis depends on basic K-Pg boundary and Chicxulub impact knowledge
Changing Scientific Knowledgeages 9–11The extinction debate is a key example of evaluating competing explanations

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Curriculum alignment

Where this fits in the official school curriculum — our best automated guess, not yet checked by a person.

This skill sits outside the F–6 Australian Curriculum — no candidate code matched (v0.1). No NSW K–6 outcome code matched (v0.1). No Victorian Curriculum 2.0 code matched (v0.1).

Nearby on the map

All Dinosaurs & Paleontology skills →