Roar Like a Dino

Grade Level: Kindergarten (Ages 3-4)

Subject: STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math)

US Standards Alignment:

• Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS):
  • K-LS1-1: Use observations to describe patterns of what plants and animals (including humans) need to survive.
  • K-PS2-1: Motion and stability: Forces and interactions (explore the effects of pushes/pulls).
  • K-ESS3-1: Communicate solutions for reducing the impact of humans on the environment.

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Objective

By the end of this 50-minute lesson, students will:

1. Identify basic facts about dinosaurs (what they ate, how big they were, etc.).
2. Conduct two simple hands-on experiments to explore how dinosaurs moved and ate.
3. Express their dinosaur knowledge creatively with a group activity.

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Materials Needed

• Plastic dinosaur figurines (at least 8-10)
• Bin of dry sand or kinetic sand
• Bin of playdough (soft clay or similar material)
• Plastic spoons, tweezers, and clothespins (for "herbivore vs. carnivore" activity)
• Plastic easter eggs filled with small dinosaur “fossils” (tiny plastic bones, shells, or charms)
• A ramp made from cardboard or wood
• Toy cars or round objects to represent "dinos on the move"
• Visual dinosaur flashcards or a picture book about dinosaurs
• Pre-drawn dinosaur footprints (cut out of construction paper)
• Dinosaur sound clips (on a portable speaker, optional)
• Chart paper or whiteboard and markers

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Lesson Plan Agenda

1. Welcome and Dino Warm-Up (5 minutes)

• Teacher Action:
  • Greet students with enthusiasm and play a short dinosaur roar sound clip to spark curiosity.
  • Ask: "What do you think dinosaurs ate? How do you think they walked or moved?" (Elicit a few guesses.)
  • Display a few dinosaur flashcards and briefly introduce:
    • Herbivores: Plant eaters (e.g., Triceratops).
    • Carnivores: Meat eaters (e.g., T-Rex).

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2. Experiment 1: Dino Feet Stomp! (10 minutes)

• Objective: Explore how dinosaurs moved and examine their footprints.

• Setup:

  • Lay out pre-cut dinosaur footprints on the ground (in different sizes).
  • Create 2 small paths: one with sand and another with playdough.

• Activity:

  1. Give each student a plastic dinosaur figurine and encourage them to "walk" their dino on the sand and playdough paths.
  2. Ask: "What happened to the sand? Did the footprints stay in the playdough? Why?"

• Discussion:

  • Explain how scientists study fossils and footprints to learn about dinosaur movement.
  • Use the visual flashcards or whiteboard to highlight how larger dinosaurs made deeper footprints compared to smaller ones.

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3. Experiment 2: Herbivore vs. Carnivore Eating Challenge (15 minutes)

• Objective: Investigate how different dinosaurs ate and understand their diet.

• Setup:

  • Divide students into two groups: "Herbivores" and "Carnivores."
  • Create a "food station" with small items representing plants (cotton balls, leaves, soft sponges) and meat (tiny toys or blocks).
  • Give each group tools: spoons and tweezers for "herbivores" (to mimic plants needing gentle picking) and clothespins for "carnivores" (to mimic sharp teeth biting meat).

• Activity:

  1. Have students use their group's tools to "eat" their food (i.e., move the cotton balls or toy blocks into a bowl).
  2. Ask: "Was it easy or hard to pick your food? How is this like real dinosaurs?"

• Discussion:

  • Explain that herbivores had flat teeth for grinding plants, while carnivores had sharp teeth for tearing meat.

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4. Movement and Ramp Challenge (10 minutes)

• Objective: Discover how dinosaurs might have moved up and down slopes.

• Setup:

  • Create a ramp using cardboard or wood.
  • Provide toy cars or rolling objects to mimic dinosaur movement.

• Activity:

  1. Let students take turns rolling toy cars up and down the ramp, imagining they are dinosaurs climbing hills.
  2. Optional: Introduce toy dinosaurs and discuss how size/weight may have affected their movement.

• Discussion:

  • "Do you think big dinosaurs were slower or faster than smaller ones? Why?"

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5. Creative Dino Wrap-Up (10 minutes)

• Objective: Encourage students to summarize what they learned using art and group activities.

• Setup:

  • Hang chart paper on the wall and provide crayons/markers.
  • Label sections with prompts, such as:
    • "Dinosaurs were…"
    • "Dinosaurs ate…"
    • "Dinosaurs moved by…"

• Activity:

  • Invite students to draw their favorite dinosaur and add footprints or "food" to the chart paper mural.
  • Ask each child to share their drawing and what their dino ate or how it moved.

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Extension Idea (if there’s extra time): Dino Dig Mini-Activity

• Hide small "fossils" (e.g., plastic dinosaur bones) in a sand tray.
• Give students brushes to “excavate” and encourage them to guess which dinosaur the bones belong to.

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Assessment/Evidence of Learning

• Observe students’ ability to:
  1. Distinguish between herbivores and carnivores during the eating challenge.
  2. Describe their dinosaur’s movement or diet during the group drawing activity.
  3. Participate and explain their role in experiments.

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Modifications for Diverse Learners

• For students needing extra support: Pair them with a buddy to complete hands-on activities.
• For advanced learners: Challenge them to compare dinosaurs from different time periods or introduce terms like fossil, paleontologist, and extinction.

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Teacher Reflection

Did students engage with the materials and experiments? Were they able to articulate simple ideas about dinosaurs? What could be improved for next time?