Young children are fascinated with dinosaurs. I'm fascinated with dinosaurs! We spent the last week learning about dinosaurs. Here is an overview-
*We introduced and used vocabulary words-fossil, extinct (or the kids say 'stink'), herbivores, carnivores and paleontologist.
*We also learned to identify T-Rex, stegosaurus, triceratops and brachiosaurus. It is rewarding to see the children transfer this knowledge to the block center (where there are dinosaurs) and the dramatic play center.
*On Wednesday, we went into the fellowship hall to 'measure' dinosaurs. I have yarn measured out the height and length of the four dinosaurs. It is really mind boggling to visually see the length of a brachiosaurus (envision the entire length of the fellowship hall).
*The dinosaurs stencils in the art center have turned one of our bulletin boards into a Jurassic Park.
*Magnets and word cards w/dinosaur names are on the blue cabinet.
*Our sand tub has 'dinosaur bones' in it for digging up fossils.
*On Friday, we graphed our favorite dinosaur. Graphing allows us to introduce and use words like zero, equal, greater, least, more and less.
*We also had the children recall information and dictate a 'report' on Friday. This will be sent home Monday. The word 'dinosaur' will be in be bold and underlined. Add to your child's storybook.
Listed below are some websites with great photos, videos and additional information on dinosaurs. Please note that these are not children's websites (Smithsonian, American Museum of Natural History and Discovery Channel).
http://photo2.si.edu/dino/dino.html
http://www.paleobiology.si.edu/dinosaurs/
http://dsc.discovery.com/dinosaurs/
http://www.amnh.org/science/
http://www.amnh.org/ology/index.php?channel=paleontology
