古生物学入門：恐竜とは何か？

Hello, Junior Paleontologists!  In this one-time class, we will ask and answer the question, "What is a Dinosaur?"  We can all recognize the great and powerful beasts we call Tyrannosaurus, Brachiosaurus, and Triceratops, but what ARE they?  What MAKES them dinosaurs?  

In this class, we will study key facts about dinosaurs that make them unique by answering the following scientific questions:

1.  What does the word "dinosaur" mean and who came up with it?
2.  What is a Paleontologist and what do they do?
3.  How do we know dinosaurs really existed?
4.  What are the different classifications of dinosaurs and how do we identify them (Theropods, Sauropods, Stegosaurs, Ankylosauria, Cerapods, Ornithopods, and Pachycephalosauria)?
5.  What size were dinosaurs?
6.  What did dinosaurs eat (herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores)?
7.  Where did the dinosaurs go?

The class is structured such that it has a high amount of student engagement.  Before the class begins, students will be provided with a link to a set of interactive Google Slides through the Pear Deck add-on software.  Ideally, students may log into the Outschool classroom a minute or two early in order to click on the link to their set of Google Slides.  The student's individual set of interactive Google Slides is in a separate window from the Zoom meeting application.  There are several options for viewing both your Zoom window and the Google Slides window simultaneously.  

Option 1:  You may access Zoom on your computer and the Google Slides on a separate device (e.g., phone or tablet).  Or, vice versa, you may access the Google Slides on your computer and Zoom on a separate device (e.g., phone or tablet).  

Option 2:  If you are using a single monitor on your computer, you may Restore (make smaller) both the Zoom and the Google Slides windows.  Then arrange them (change their sizes) on the screen such that you can see both windows on your monitor.  If you have trouble Restoring the Zoom window, make sure that you are not in the full-screen mode.  To exit full-screen mode on a PC (not a Mac), click the Exit Full Screen rectangle in the top-right corner of your Zoom window.  To exit full-screen mode on a Mac (not a PC), click the green dot in the top-left corner of your Zoom window.

Option 3:  If you are using dual monitors on your computer, you may drag either the Zoom or Google Slides window to one monitor and the other application to the other monitor.  

Students seem to love interacting in class using Pear Deck interactive Google Slides and it is a great tool to keep students of any age engaged and focused.  Students will be able to use a drawing tool to draw on the screen as well as a drag-and-drop feature to answer questions during class.  Each student can only see his or her drawings or drag-and-drop icons (you cannot see other student's responses unless they are shared, but the teacher can see everyone's responses).  

At the end of the lesson, we will read two dinosaur jokes, and, as time permits, we will have a show-and-tell portion where each student has a chance to show their dinosaur items!  Though not required, please encourage your child to bring something dinosaur-related to class.  This could be dinosaur toys, books, stickers, fossils, dinosaur model kits, LEGO dinosaurs, t-shirts or dresses, etc.  

All students are encouraged to speak and engage in class but are not required to speak. All students have different levels of social comfort and I want this class to be one in which students of all levels of social interactivity feel included and welcome. A shy student will still learn plenty by absorbing the facts presented.  

Upon completion of the class, each student will receive a Certificate of Mastery in Junior Paleontology for their hard work!

No prior knowledge is required for this class.  However, for younger learners (approximately aged 3-5) who are not familiar with using the Zoom application, I recommend an adult sit with them through class.  Thank you for your interest in Paleontology 101: What is a Dinosaur? for your child!  See you in class!

Mrs. Kristi