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The Big Dinosaur Podcast

The Big Dinosaur Podcast

A site about dinosaurs

Dinosaur Parental Care

Dinosaur Parental Care

Lesson

Listen to the Maiasaura dinosaur of the day segment. For Elementary students, follow the prompt in the downloadable PDF (under “Materials”).

For Middle School and High School students, talk through the discussion questions.

Recommended For

Elementary, Middle School, High School

Goals

  • Learn about dinosaur parental care
  • Discuss how scientists know dinosaurs cared for their young

Materials

*Affiliate link

Potential Discussion Questions

  • Why do scientists think Maiasaura was a good parent?
  • How did Maiasaura probably take care of its eggs?
  • [Optional]: Do you think other dinosaurs, like T. rex, were good parents?

The Mystery of the Cleveland Lloyd Quarry

The Mystery of the Cleveland Lloyd Quarry

Lesson

Learn about the Cleveland Lloyd Quarry and why it is so unusual. Then answer the discussion questions.

Recommended For

High School

Goals

  • Learn about how science works
  • Practice critical thinking

Materials

Potential Discussion Questions

  • What’s unique about the Cleveland Lloyd Quarry?
  • What do you think is the most likely reason for so many Allosaurus to be fossilized together in one spot? Here are the four current hypotheses:
    • Bloat and float
    • Predator trap
    • Drought
    • Poison
  • Do you think all the Allosaurus died together or that their bones accumulated at the quarry. Why or why not?

Battle of the Dinosaurs

Battle of the Dinosaurs

Allosaurus, by Josh Cotton

Lesson

Listen to the Allosaurus and Apatosaurus dinosaur of the day segments in the I Know Dino podcast. Then discuss which dinosaur would win in a fight and why. For the full prompt, download the PDF (under “Materials”).

Recommended For

Middle School, High School

Goals

  • Learn the strengths and weaknesses of a carnivorous dinosaur
  • Learn the strengths and weaknesses of an herbivorous dinosaur

Materials

*Affiliate link

Potential Additional Discussion Questions

  • Apatosaurus had a long neck. What features did its neck have that allowed the dinosaur to keep its head elevated?
  • The Allosaurus Big Al had a hard life. What types of injuries could dinosaurs survive, and what kinds of injuries would have been fatal (for example, the dinosaur was too injured to hunt or run away from predators)?

A Day in the Life of a Dinosaur

A Day in the Life of a Dinosaur

Lesson

Use what you know about dinosaurs and imagine a day in the life of one. For the full prompt, download the PDF. To learn more about a specific dinosaur, listen to the dinosaur of the day segment of an I Know Dino episode.

Recommended For

Elementary, Middle School, High School

Goals

  • Discuss your favorite dinosaur
  • Practice creative writing

Materials

*Affiliate link

Dinosaur Communication

Dinosaur Communication

Image courtesy of Zissoudisctrucker, via Wikimedia Commons

Lesson

Listen to the Parasaurolophus dinosaur of the day segment on I Know Dino and our interview with Dr. David Evans (under “Materials”). Then discuss what you learned.

Recommended For

Elementary, Middle School

Goals

  • Learn how Parasaurolophus may have communicated
  • Discuss other aspects of Parasaurolophus

Materials

    Potential Discussion Questions

    • What did scientists used to think Parasaurolophus used its crest for?
    • Why might Parasaurolophus use its crest for communicating?
    • How might Parasaurolophus use its crest for communicating?
    • When might Parasaurolophus use its crest for communicating?

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