Lesson Plan #: AELP-PAL0005
Submitted by: Alycia M. Rep
Endorsed by: Dr. Descy
Affiliation: Mankato State University Date: February 23, 1998
Grade Level(s): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Subject(s):
- Science/Paleontology
Description: This is a fun outdoor or indoor activity that can be accommodated to any grade level. This lesson will help identify fossils and what they are. It will also discuss baby dinosuars and how big they were. It is a wonderful activity to do with children of all ages.
Goal:
The students will gain a better understanding of what fossils are and how to make their own fossils. They will also identify dinosaurs and their babies.
Objectives:
-The students will make their own dinosaur that they can name after themselves.
-The students will use their imagination in identifying dinosaurs.
-The students will classify dinosaurs eggs dinosaur eggs.
-The students will look at real fossils and explain which animal they are from.
-The students will make their own fossils, edible ones.
Background Information:
This is a fun activity for children of all ages. There are several books that you can find in the local libraries that will give you more information about fossils and dinosaurs. I used this activity with students entering the first grade and they loved it. They knew all about dinosaurs and loved all the activities we performed.
Concepts:
The students will be able to:
-apply the knowledge they have previously learned about dinosaurs in this lesson.
-identify fossils in order to recreate fossils.
Materials:
-Play doh
-Crayons, markers, pencils, construction paper
-Glue
-Balloons
-Scissors
-Peanut butter, honey, and powdered milk
Procedure:
1. Start with leading question to test previous knowledge such as: What does a dinosaur look like? What did dinosaurs eat? How big were the dinosaurs? Did dinosaurs have babies?
2. Have the children perform a visualization activity. Tell them to relax and close their eyes to use their imagination. Have them imagine what the dinosaurs were like have them visualize themselves beside the dinosaur. After a few minutes have the children draw on a sheet of paper what they envisioned. They can share these with the class, if they like.
3. Have the students recreate their drawing with play doh, for fun. This time, they have to name it after themselves. Such as if your name was Matt, it could be Mattasaurus. This is a fun activity for the children to use their imagination on naming their own dinosaur.
4. Then discuss dinosaur babies with the children. Have different books available for them to read and learn about the dinosaur babies. Then have balloons ready for another fun activity. Blow the balloons up, various sizes and various colors, and hide them outdoors or inside the classroom. Then have the children find all of the balloons, they will be known as dinosaur eggs. Once the students have found all of the eggs, have them classify them into categories such as color, size, or texture. This will also help the students understand the idea of classifying objects according to several different things.
5. Discuss what fossils are and how they became fossils. Bring in different fossils of animals for the students to feel and learn from observing. Also bring in any rocks the students can make observations and compare to animal fossils.
6. Have the students make their own fossils, to eat. Make that out of peanut butter, honey, and powdered milk. After making the fossils, the students can imprint their hands, buttons, what ever they want.
7. You can do things with the group and imprinting activities such as guess what I have imprinted. Play a game and have the students guess what it is that you imprinted.
Assessment:
Assess the following:
- If the students are able to make their own pictures of dinosaurs
- If the students can classify the objects, and
- If the students can identify what a fossil is then they have self assessed themselves.
This done not need a test, it is only necessary to watch the children as they are performing the activities and whether or not they understand something will be determined in their work.
Useful Books to Use:
What Happened to the Dinosaur?
Digging up Dinosaurs
Magic School Bus in the time of the Dinosaur
Count-A-Saurus
A Dinosaur named after Me.
Dinosaur Babies
Let’s Go Dinosaur Tracking
Useful Internet Resources:
* Edible Peanut Butter Playdough
http://www.electricscotland.com/lifestyle/gifts/playtime_basket.htm
* Snack Recipes
http://childcarefriends.com/Snack%20recipes%20pg%202.htm
* Making Dinosaur Bones
http://www.nutritionexplorations.org/educators/lessons/chef-combo/chef-act-makingdino.asp
* Lesson Plan: What Big Teeth You Have: A Comparison of Marine Fossil Teeth and Human Teeth
http://www.geology.wisc.edu/~museum/hughes/Fossil_Teeth.html
* Preschool Education Snacks
http://www.preschooleducation.com/cdinosaur.shtml