Introduction
In class, we have been learning about dinosaurs and what paleontologists do. Do you think you have what it takes to be a paleontologist? Now is your chance, so let's see if you have what it takes ! A fossil has been found in our town! The paleontologists need help determining what dinosaur it belongs to and they need YOUR help.
Task
Your task is to research the dinosaur that has been assigned to you. You are going to act as a paleontologist to help your town discover what dinosaur the fossil belongs to that they found. In order to do this you must do your own research and create a fossil of your dinosaur to see if they match up. You will be doing some team work too ! Enjoy !
| 10. Diplocaulus | 19. Ornithomimus | 28. Stegosaurus | |
| 2. Allosaurus | 11. Dromaesaurus | 20. Oviraptor |
29. Triceraptops |
| 3. Apatosaurus |
12. Elasmosaurus | 21. Ornitholestes | 30. Trilobite |
| 4. Baryonyx | 13. Giganotosaurus | 22. Plesiosaur | 31. Troodon |
| 5. Coelophysis | 14. Hesperonis | 23. Pliosaurus |
32. Tyrannosaurus |
| 6. Cynognathus | 15. Ichthyosaurus | 24. Protoceratops |
33. Utahraptor |
| 7. Deinonychus | 16. Kronosaurus | 25. Pterodactyl | 34. Velociraptor |
| 8. Dilophosaurus | 17. Liopleurodon | 26. Saltopus | 35. Quetzacoatlus |
| 9. Dimorphodon | 18. Nothasaurus | 27. Spinosaurus | 36. Yangchuanosaurus |
Process
Step 1: After you have been assigned your dinosaur, find out from what time period the dinosaur is from out of the three that we have learned in class. ( Triassic, Jurassic, or Cretaceous)
Step 2: Find out what the dinosaur eats. Are the a herbivore or carnivore?
Step 3: Find an additional 3 facts that you think to be interesting about your dinosaur.
Step 4: Research some images of fossils that have been found for your dinosaur.
Step 5: Using the clay and molds given you to, create a fossil for your dinosaur.
Step 6: Each student will present what they found out about their dinosaur and show off their fossil to the class. The class will get a chance to really observe each fossil because every paleontologist must know their research and information on dinosaurs in order to discover fossils.
Step 7: The class will be broken up into groups of four. In these groups, you will each have a large sand box that has fossils in it. Your job is to dig through the sand with provided tools and find the fossils. You will then discuss what dinosaur you think it is and why yout think it is that dinosaur.
Step 8: I will then show you guys the fossil that was found in our town and based off what you have learned and the fossils that you have seen, which dinosaur and fossil seems to match?
Evaluation
|
Nothing - 0 points |
Adequate - 5 points | Excellent - 10 points | ||
| Research | Students did no research on their dinosaur. | Students knew very little about their dinosaur. Missing either time period, diet, or 3 additional facts. | Students had all research that was asked for. They had time period, diet, and 3 additional facts. | |
| Fossil | Students did not make a fossil. | Students put very little effort into their fossil. Did not research enough. | Students put a lot of effort into their fossil. Their fossil's portrayed their research. | |
| Presentation | Students were unable to explain their dinosaur and their research. | Students provided some of information on their dinosaur, but not every aspect that was asked for. | Students provided all the information on their dinosaur that was needed and required. | |
| Group Participation | Students did not show any interest or participate in group activity. | Students participate very little in group activity. They did not engage in discussion. | Students were engaged in the search for fossil, as well as discussion aspect of the activity. |
Conclusion
Awesome job class! Thanks to your help, the paleontologists were able to discover what type of dinosaur it was! It ended up being a Brachiosaurus! You are all great paleontologists!
Teacher Page
Next Generation Science Standards Science and Engineering Practice 8:
Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information
Scientists and Engineers spend over half of their working day reading, evaluating and producing text. Therefore it is important that we produce students that have a high level of scientific literacy.