Weird Science: Strange Dinosaur Sizes
In this one-time class, students will learn about an interesting aspect of dinosaur biology - why were there very few medium sized carnivorous dinosaurs?
John PhD
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(258)
Popular
Rising Star
What's included
1 live meeting
25 mins in-class hoursClass Experience
US Grade 4 - 7
Delve into the captivating puzzle surrounding the scarcity of medium-sized carnivorous dinosaurs. Let’s explore and uncover the secrets hidden within the fossil record! Nature loves balance, and when things become unbalanced, it usually sorts itself out. This includes concepts like animal size. Today, mammals have a variety of body plans including small, medium, and large carnivores. Dinosaurs, however, played by their own rules! We know of many species of large carnivorous dinosaur, as well as many small species, but medium-sized dinosaurs seem to be few and far between. This does not follow nature’s plan and until recently was a true puzzle for scientists, but new research may have solved this riddle! By the end of this class, you will have developed a deeper understanding of the intricate dynamics that shaped dinosaur ecosystems. Enhance your knowledge of dinosaur evolution and ecology, and gain critical thinking skills through active participation in the class. *This class is based on research published in the journal Science by Schroeder et al. (2021) titled “The influence of juvenile dinosaurs on community structure and diversity.”
Learning Goals
Students will learn about animal community and ecosystem dynamics while discussing what could cause a lack of medium-sized carnivorous dinosaurs.
Other Details
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Teacher expertise and credentials
Master's Degree in Science from Saint Mary's University
Hello, Outschoolers!
My name is John and I have been a scientist and educator for over 15 years. I hold a Bachelor of Science (Honors in Biology), Master of Applied Sciences, and a Ph.D. in biology. Over my BSc, MSc and PhD I have designed and delivered courses for students aged 3 to 63 for class sizes ranging from one-on-one lessons to classrooms of over 300 students.
I have professionally taught subjects such as Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Astronomy, and Math, as well as more focused lessons such as courses in Public Speaking, Time Management, and Conversation Skills. I have worked as a scientific mentor and instructor to students in elementary school all the way to university. I hold certificates for 150-hour Teaching English as a Foreign Language and 250-hour Intensive Teaching certificates, and have participated in seminars for Grading and Giving Feedback to students. I have given scientific conference presentations to audiences of more than 700 people, and have published a number of peer-reviewed scientific articles. I also have experience coaching a variety of sports including hockey, basketball, and volleyball. I have been teaching courses online for 5 years to more than 1200 students.
I am a lifelong student and love to learn new things each day. My teaching philosophy revolves around this idea, that every student has a lot of their own to offer and I always try to relate any topic to a student's interest. You may find classes of mine that take popular culture and relate these hobbies and interests with academic concepts to help students relate to the material. My classes are often heavy in discussion (though no student is forced to speak if they do not want to) and we expand on the material in each lesson based on what students are most interested in. This often results in courses that interest me in particular and that I think can offer students a lot of value and critical thinking skills. I teach high-level academic courses, as well as conversation-based community development to foster interest in sharing things students enjoy.
Private, personalized tutoring is also available. Send me a message if interested.
I hope to see you all in class soon!
JohnReviews
Live One-Time Class
$21
per classMeets once
25 min
Completed by 9 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 9-14
2-10 learners per class
