Fossils The Discovery of Dinosaurs

Facts about Fossils A type of scientist named a palaeontologist studies fossils to learn about prehistoric plants and animals. Fossils can be mineralized bones, teeth, shells, wood, or actual unaltered material from an organism, like frozen flesh or bones! The best place to go and see real fossils found by palaeontologist is the Museum. Fossils are identified, catalogued, and stored safely for research at the museum. The oldest known fossils are 3.5 Billion years old!

Where are fossils found? Sediments are deposited in layers, sometimes burying traces of life. These sedimentary rocks are stratified. Most fossils are found in sedimentary rock. Sedimentary rocks are made of sand, silt, mud, or cobbles. Sediments are often carried in water, and deposited in layers or strata.

How are fossils extracted? Fossils are extracted from rock using special tools.

Fun Facts about Dinosaurs There are over 300 different species of Dinosaurs that have been found so far. The longest dinosaur ever found was Seismosaurus. This dinosaur was more than 140 feet long and may have weighed 80 to 100 tons! The smallest dinosaur ever found was known as Compsognathus, it was the size of a chicken. Dinosaurs roams the earth over 180 Million years ago!

A Few Extinct Animals

A Few Special Features

The Plant Eater: Sauropod

The Life of Dinosaurs Dinosaurs were land- dwelling reptiles that walked with an erect stance. Their unique hip structure caused their legs to stick out under their bodies, and not sprawl out from the side. There were many different types of dinosaurs, differing in size and weight, locomotion, and diet.

Web Research Activity Learn about different kinds of dinosaurs and activities from the web. Visit “enchanted learning” to go on a discovery of dinosaurs and take quizzes about them also. After longing onto the internet, type in ning.com/subjects/dinosa urs/index.html

Click on the highlighted categories to view information about dinosaurs. Select a dinosaur of your choice and research it. You could use other web-sites to find dinosaur information. Type a research paper and bring it to the class. You will present the information, it must include an illustration of the dinosaur.

Making Fossil Replicas. Lab. Today, we are going to make our own fossils using plaster and molds. We are going to leave our own prints in history, just as the dinosaurs did 180 Million years ago. Have Fun!!!!!