What's in a Dinosaur Name?

Add to list Go to activity
Activity link broken? See if it's at the internet archive
In this activity, learners explore the etymology of dinosaur names. Learners first discuss how dinosaurs are often named after a body part or behavior, where they were found, or a person (finder or famous). Learners also discuss Greek and Latin prefixes and suffixes that are commonly found in dinosaur names. Then, learners create a paper puzzle that generates new dinosaur names. This activity is featured on pp.20-27 (part of a lesson that begins on p.19) of the "Dinosphere" unit of study for grades 3-5.

Quick Guide

Preparation Time:
5 to 10 minutes
Learning Time:
45 to 60 minutes
Estimated Materials Cost:
1 cent - $1 per group of students
Age Range:
Ages 8 - 11
Resource Types:
Activity, Lesson/Lesson Plan
Language:
English

Materials List (per group of students)

Keywords

Subjects

  • Earth and Space Science
    • Earth's History
      • Archeology
      • Fossils
      • Dinosaurs
  • Life Sciences
    • Diversity of Life
      • Animals
      • Classification

Informal Categories

  • Animals

Audience

To use this activity, learners need to:

  • see
  • read
  • touch

Learning styles supported:

  • Involves hands-on or lab activities

Other

Includes alignment to state and/or national standards:

This resource is part of:

Access Rights:

  • Free access

By:

Rights:

  • All rights reserved, The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, 2004