The Museum of Natural History
Smithsonian Institute
10th Street and Constitution Ave.
Washington, D.C.
(202)357-2700
(202) 357-2066 Education Office
(202) 786-2178 Docent Coordinator
Instructional Unit:
A Unit on Dinosaurs
Curriculum Unit:
Grade 1, 2, 3, L.D.
Science
Objectives:
1. Students will understand what a fossil is.
2. Students will learn six dinosaurs and tell one characteristic about each.
3. Students will describe verbally what a dinosaur might have looked like.
4. Students will learn the meaning of the words: extinct, climate and concept of millions of years.
5. Students will learn what the world was like when dinosaurs were alive.
6. Students will visit the National Museum of Natural History and see the exhibit on dinosaurs as a fun and positive learning experience.
Pre-Visit Activities:
1. Teacher will visit/contact the National Museum of Natural History to obtain map and information.
2. Teacher will introduce unit with activity on fossils. Teacher will ask the question " What happened to dinosaur bones?" Answer: "Some dinosaur bones, plants and other animals changed into stones called fossils. We will do a science/art activity and make our own fossils." Each child will make an imprint in red hardening clay. Objects to choose from could include: A chicken bone, leaf or a shell to make imprint. The teacher should explain that the students will see many fossils at the dinosaur exhibit during the upcoming trip.
3. Display picture books about dinosaurs in the classroom. Books can be used with language arts, science and writing activities.
4. Display pictures of dinosaurs on bulletin boards.
5. Show video, Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs: An Entertaining and Fascinating Journey into the World of Dinosaurs. The students will visually be able to experience what it was like to be a dinosaurs millions of years ago. They will learn about extinction and climate.
On-Site Activities:
1. Teacher will verbally guide students and adults through the exhibit on dinosaurs.
2. Scavenger hunt: One adult assigned to each two students. Adult will record the information that the students find. Students will be given a worksheet to find specific things for the Scavenger Hunt.
Follow-Up Activities:
1. Students will share what they found on the Scavenger Hunt.
2. Students will draw a picture of their favorite dinosaur.
3. Students will make a dinosaur big book as a class activity.
4. Students will write thank-you notes to parents and museum personnel.
5. Students will write a language experience story about life as a dinosaur.
6. Students will make a shoe box diorama of what it was like when the dinosaurs were alive.
7. Students will make fossil soup and dinosaur cookies. (See appendices for recipes.)
Appendices:
Fossil Soup Recipe and Dinosaur Cookie Recipe
Bibliography:
Books:
Aliki, Digging up Dinosaurs, Harper and Row Junior Books, l988.
Dudley, Dick, Baby Stegosaurus Pop-up,Baby Brontosaurus Pop-up,Baby Triceratops Pop-up,Baby Coelophysis Pop-up,Baby Tyrannosaurus Rex Pop-up, compass Productions, Long Beach, CA., 1989.
Hoff, Syd, Danny and the Dinosaur, Scholastic Inc., 1958.
Lindblom, Steven, Tiny Dinosaurs, A Golden Book, New York, 1988.
O'Neill, Mary, Where are all the Dinosaurs?, Mokum Publishing Company, 1989.
Prelutsky, Tyrannosaurus Was a Beast, Scholastic Inc.,1988.
Rowe, Erna, Giant Dinosaurs, Scholastic Inc., 1973.
Video:
Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs. Twin Tower Enterprises, 1987.
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