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The Age of Dinosaurs May Have Ended in Springtime

In this guide, students will answer claim, evidence and reasoning questions about how scientists used the bones of ancient fish to determine during what season an asteroid wiped out nonavian dinosaurs. They will then explore the physical properties of human bones and how bones offer evidence to support scientific claims.

Dating dino doomsday

Students will answer claim, evidence and reasoning questions about the online Science News article “The Age of Dinosaurs may have ended in springtime.” The article describes how scientists used fossilized fish to determine what season it was when an asteroid wiped out nonavian dinosaurs. A version of the article, “Dinosaur killer may have hit in spring,” appears in the March 26, 2022 issue of Science News.

Sizing up a dinosaur

Students will answer questions about the Science News article “This ancient dinosaur was no bigger than a hummingbird,” which reports on a fossil of a many-toothed, Mesozoic predator.

Here Come the (Bigger) Mammals

This guide, based on the Science News article “Here come the (bigger) mammals,” asks students to analyze a graph about a recent fossil find, discuss how organisms evolve as ecosystems change and research important fossil sites across the world.

Growing up mammal

Students will answer questions based on the Science News article “Here come the (bigger) mammals.”

Stories in rock

In this activity, students will research important fossil sites across the world and synthesize what they find into a story to present to the class.

Robot Re-creates a Tetrapod’s Moves

This guide explores how scientists combine approaches from different scientific fields to study ancient locomotion.

Step into the shoes of a scientist studying ancient locomotion

These discussion prompts encourage students to apply their knowledge of experimental design.

Following an ancient path

Students will answer questions based on the Science News article "Robot re-creates a tetrapod's moves."

What Makes a Dinosaur?

This guide explores what it means to be a dinosaur, and features a classroom activity focused on real fossils.

Land of the lost

In this activity, students will identify fossils using hand magnifiers or stereomicroscopes, determine which era each fossil is from and how the fossils might have formed over time.

Journey to the age of the dinosaurs

These discussion prompts cover the major groups of dinosaurs and their time on Earth, as well as how we study them today.