The Dinosaur Exhibit: A Trip to the Museum of Natural History

The National Museum of Natural History
Smithsonian Institute
10th Street and Constitution Ave.
Washington, D.C. 20560
(202)357-2700
(202) 357-2747 (Education Department)

Instructional Unit:
The unit is great preparation for a field trip to the Dinosaur Hall of the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. A visit here provides the reality of the size and shape of these animals. It allows them to see what has excited scientists with so many examples of the skeletons, fossils, and representations of what life was like millions of years ago.

Curriculum Unit:
Grade K
Science

Objectives:
At the end of a 3-4 week on dinosaurs, the kindergarten student will:
1. Identify various dinosaurs and explain why they are different from other dinosaurs. (What they eat, their size, their body shape, their habitat).
2. Define the following words: Extinct, Paleontologist, Fossil.
3. Represent in art (painting, markers, journal drawing, stenciling) a scene in which dinosaurs are shown.
4. Identify animals that still exist today that lived with the dinosaurs.
5. Identify other prehistoric animals. (Mastodon, Woolly Mammoth, Saber Toothed Tiger, Archaeopteryx).
6. Distinguish where certain dinosaurs lived in comparison to others.

Pre-Visit Activities:
1. Present information on:

a. Different dinosaurs.
b . Animals that are still living, that had lived with the dinosaurs.
c . Other prehistoric animals
d . The environment in which these animals lived.
e . The living habits of these dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals.
f . How scientists discovered this information.
g . Why scientists think these animals became extinct.

2. Classroom set-up:

a. Collect various picture books on dinosaurs and display in room.
b. Create dinosaur bulletin boards.
c. Create centers with dinosaur toys and activities to stimulate discussion on dinosaurs. (Bingo, dominoes, flannel board characters, action figures, puppets, sewing cards, card games).
d. Provide artistic opportunities to create scenes and stories about dinosaurs. (Easels with paints or markers, stencils, stamps, journal writing).
e. Collect other media-- videos, filmstrips, dinosaur songs.
f. Create small group activities to stimulate discussion and thinking. (Adding and subtracting with dinosaurs, beginning sound activities; bingo games, lotto games).

On-Site Activities:
Questions for parents and teachers to ask during the trip:
1. What dinosaurs can you name?
2. What makes dinosaurs special?
3. How did the dinosaurs live?
4. Why do scientists think they became extinct?
5. What is a paleontologist?
6. What do you see about the size of the dinosaurs?
7. What can you see and say about their bodies?
8. What do the drawings tell you?
9. What do you think about the bones and skeletons?

Follow-Up Activities:
To stimulate discussion after the trip:
1. Did you see any fossils?
2. What skeletons did you see?
3. What did you learn about the way they lived?
4. Did you find out anything new about the way that they became extinct?


Appendices:
None

Bibliography:
Aliki, Dinosaur Bones (Let's Read and Find Out). Harper Trophy, 1990.

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