Smaller Than You Think
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Description
Learners compare a life-size drawing of a Tyrannosaurus rex head and a full-size Sinornithosaurus body to understand that dinosaurs varied in size. Learners trace individual pieces of a dinosaur on paper and then work together as a group to arrange the pieces of the "puzzle". This is an opportunity to understand scale drawings as well as learn how to work as a group.
Quick Guide
- Preparation Time: 10 to 30 minutes
- Learning Time: 1 to 2 hours
- Estimated materials cost: 1 cent - $1 per group of students
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Age Range: Ages 8 - 11
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Resource Type: Activity
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Language: English
Materials List (per group of students)
- paper, cut to 6"x6"
- scissors
- tape
- pencils and black markers
- printout of grids of a Tyrannosaurus Rex head (p3 of PDF)
- printout of grid of a Sinornithosaurus body (p4 of PDF)
Subjects
Subjects
- Earth and Space Science
- Earth's History
- Dinosaurs
- History of Life
- Earth's History
- Life Sciences
- Diversity of Life
- Animals
- Evolution
- History of Life
- Diversity of Life
- Mathematics
- Measurement
- Size and Scale
- Representation
- Measurement
Audience
To use this activity learners need to
- see
- read
- be mobile
- touch
Learning styles supported
- Involves teamwork and communication skills
- Links STEM to other topics of interest such as arts and humanities
- Involves hands-on or lab activities
Other
Comments
The book "Prehistoric Actual Size" by Steve Jenkins includes full-color illustrations of life-size dinosaur parts such as beak and claw. The book would be an excellent reading connection for this activity, including for younger learners.