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Project Description
 

Dinosaurs roamed the earth millions of years ago; however, they are still a fascinating topic to teach.  From the T-rex to the Stegosaurus, students are constantly “digging” for information on these magnificent creatures. What did they eat? What was their environment like? 

     Today, the students will start their trip back in time, and learn about the time periods, the types of dinosaurs, and the behavior and anatomy of the dinosaurs, in order to design a habitat that would support dinosaur life.  When students come back from their trip, they will use all of the information that they have gathered and each team will design a dinosaur zoo.  Their presentation can be in the form of a poster, diorama, or slide show.

 

Project Goals
 

Essential Question:

How did the dinosaurs’ habitat affect their survival?
 

Specific Questions:

  • What was the climate of each period?

  • What type of plants and animals were present during each period?

  • What were the characteristics of carnivores?

  • What were the characteristics of herbivores?

  • What were the characteristics of omnivores?

  • What was the diet of carnivores?

  • What was the diet of herbivores?

  • What was the diet of omnivores?

  • What was the behavior of dinosaurs?

     

Illinois and CPS Learning Standards and Performance Assessment Plan

 2nd Grade

State Goal #

CAS letter

CFS #

Assessment Tool(s)

1

D

1, 3

Rubric

5

A

2,4,5,8

Peer Assessment

11

B

4,5,6,7

 Teacher Observation

12

A

4

Checklist

12

B

2,4

 Class Discussion
 

 

Unit Prerequisites
 

  • Reading, writing, and listening skills

  • Basic knowledge of how to use a computer and the Internet

  • Basic knowledge of Inspiration Software

  • Basic knowledge of AppleWorks Presentation
 

 

Performance Actions
 

     Access:

  • Read and listen to stories about dinosaurs

  • Explore specific web sites for information about dinosaurs

  • Research different types of dinosaurs and their habitats

    Interpret:

  • List the climates, plants and animals of each period.

  • Compare the three types of dinosaurs (herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores), in terms of their behavior and diet.

  • List the characteristics of herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores.

  • Organize information by using Inspiration.

    Produce:

  • Create a slide show that represents one of the time periods.

  • Design a poster that depicts one of the time periods.

  • Construct a diorama that depicts one of the time periods

    Communicate:

  • Display and explain posters or dioramas

  • Present slide show presentation

  • Share information that you have learned with your group
    Evaluate:

  • Evaluate the design and presentation of the dino-zoo

  • Peer Evaluation

  • Self Evaluation using a checklist

Teacher & Student Resources

 Student Resources

Teacher Resources

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/dinosaurs/

Zoom Dinosaur is a comprehensive on-line hypertext book about dinosaurs.  It is designed for students of all ages and levels of comprehension.

www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/dinosaur.html

This website contains a great resource room that has online references, activities and crafts, and dinosaur lessons.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dinosaurs/

Do you need facts about dinosaurs? When were they here? What did they eat? Find all this out from this site.

http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dinosaurs

This site is able to answer many questions about dinosaurs with up-to-date information

http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/dinosaur.html

This is a wonderful site where students can learn about the different time periods and the dinosaurs that lived during ea period by entering the Diorama Room.

Dinosaur Resources

Click on the teacher’s page for great lists of books (fiction and non-fiction) about dinosaurs, activities, on-line resources, and related links.

http://www.rain.org/~philfear/download-a-dinosaur.html

Designs for easy–to-make paper dinosaurs that you can download from this site and print out on your printer.  All that is needed is scissors and glue.

http://www.teachers.net/lessons/posts/1268.html

This site gives you information on how do a guided reading and focused writing lesson using books about dinosaurs.

BrainPop

It’s movie time.  Take a trip back to dinosaur days.

http://webquest.sdsu.edu/matrix/K-2-Sci.htm

This site gives you webquests on dinosaurs.

The Big Book of Dinosaurs: A First book for Young Children, by Angela Wilkes (DK publishing, 1994

10 Easy Steps To Teaching Dinosaurs, by Michell Robinette & Monica Semrad (Learning Resources, 2002)

The Big Dinosaur Book, by Susanne Santoro, James Spence (Nutshell Book & Troll Associates, 1995)

Dinosaur Discoveries: How to Create Your Own Prehistoric World by Rubin West, Bob Wolfe, Diane Wolfe, & Mindy Robin (Carolrhoda Books, August 1989)

Ask Me Anything About Dinosaurs, Louis Phillips, Kevin Wasden (Camelot, 1997)

Dinosaur Activity Book, (British Museum Press, 1993)

Patrick’s Dinosaur, by Carol Carrick (Houghton Mifflin Co., 1985)

Danny and the Dinosaur, by Syd Huff (Harper Collins, 1993)

Dinosaur Valley, by Mitsuhiro Kurokawa (Chronicle Books, 1997)

Dinosaur Time, by Peggy Parish (HarperTrophy, 1983)

Dinosaur Dream, by Dennis Nolan (Simon & Schuster, 1990)

Scholastic

The Magic School Bus in the Time of the Dinosaurs, Joanna Cole, 1995

 

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