Dinosaurs make even the most lax student more enthusiastic.
For many kids, dinosaurs mark their first major passion in life. Learning about giant creatures that roamed the earth long before humanity fascinates people of all ages. Usually teachers don't need too many bells and whistles to get students interested in learning about dinosaurs. Even so, having some hands-on lesson plan activities to teach students about dinosaurs helps keep their attention.
Fossil Dig
Paleontologists scour the earth for dinosaur bones, fossils and preserved eggs, and students can imitate such a dig right within the classroom. Educational supply companies often sell fossil kits to teachers. The kits come with fossilized dinosaur teeth, claws, small bones and fossilized plants. With a fossil kit or two, some sand or dirt and a container such as a child-size blow-up pool, you can create a mini-dig for the students. Mix the fossil into the dirt or sand carefully after placing it into a container. Then allow students to dig for fossilized remains. When students find things, you may want to stop and discuss the animals the bones came from. For instance, the students could discuss whether or not a tooth is from a carnivorous or herbivorous dinosaur before the answer is revealed.
Dino Games
Combining the science involved with dinosaurs with other areas of learning kills two birds with one stone. Cram in a lesson with vocabulary or spelling while teaching your students about dinosaurs at the same time. You could find dinosaur-related word searches or crossword puzzles online or in teaching lesson plans. Alternately, you could design your own to give your class something uniquely their own. You might also consider creating a group game for the children, such as splitting them into teams to play a dinosaur-themed Hangman game or something similar to Wheel of Fortune. This way, they work on teamwork, spelling and science all at once.
Dinosaurs in the Neighborhood
Dinosaur remains can be found in nearly every corner of the earth, meaning that there likely could be remains just under your feet. Because of the wide dispersal of dinosaurs, nearly every state has at least one dinosaur found within it. For your lesson activity, have students learn all about the local dinosaurs found in the state and in surrounding areas. The children could prepare presentations on their findings or try to create models of the area dinosaurs.
Field Trips
Combining the thrill of dinosaurs with the excitement of a field trip can please basically any student. Try arranging a field trip related to dinosaurs for your students so that they can get some hands-on experience outside of the classroom. Often times local museums have paleontological departments so that students can see true-scale dinosaur skeletons. If you live near common dig sites for fossils, you may be able to arrange for a trip to the dig site for your students.
Tags: about dinosaurs, your students, dinosaurs with, field trip, nearly every, some hands-on
