This science-based homeschooling activity is a great way to introduce your child to the fossil record. Because it involves creating a Diorama poster, this activity will allow your child to work independently for several hours.
Materials:
Plateosaurus print-out (see below post)
Crayons (I used Stockmar crayons)
Watercolor Pad (I used this one)
Scissors
Glue Stick
OPTIONAL: Multi-use labels
Science Standards Addressed (NGSS): MS-LS3-1, MS-LS4-1, MS-LS4-2 HS-LS1-1, HS-LS1-2, HS-LS3-1, HS-LS4-1, HS-LS4-2, HS-LS4-4
Background:
This activity is a great way to introduce your child to the fossil record. Generally speaking, the fossil record provides a history of life on Earth. By studying fossil remains, scientists can infer the function(s) of certain anatomical structures and thus potentially deduce an organism's diet, habitat, and way of life. By working on this activity, your child will begin to understand that species descend from other species and that even distantly related species share a common ancestor. Today, your child will be putting together the skeletal remains of a Plateosaurus. The Plateosaurus was a long-necked herbivore that lived during the Upper Triassic Period (~ 216-199 million years ago) in what is now considered to be Northern Europe. The Plateosaurus could reach a length of approximately 8 m and weighing in at about 700 kg. Its most pronounced feature were hands with five fingers and a large thumb claw (plus smaller claws on the other fingers). According to scientists, the herbivore may have used its hand for grasping and walking.
Directions:
Print out the attached Plateosaurus skeleton (see below).
Using a pair of scissors, cut the Plateosaurus skeleton into small pieces (depending on your child's age, you can modify the difficulty level of this activity; smaller pieces make for a more difficult puzzle).
Once the puzzle is assembled, have your child start on the next part of the activity: the diorama poster.
Give your child 1-2 hours to do independent research on the Upper Triassic Period. What plants existed alongside the Plateosaurus? When did this time period take place? What predatory species roamed the land? etc.
Your child will then use its findings to create a diorama depicting certain aspects of Upper Triassic life. It could include abiotic factors (such as water, climate, rocks, etc.) as well as biotic factors (such as other animals, fungi, and plants). I used Stockmar crayons to complete the drawing, but colored pencils, or markers would work as well.
Have your child glue its completed puzzle onto the diorama.
OPTIONAL: Have your child color in the Plateosaurus.
OPTIONAL: Give your child a set of multi-use labels to label his/her drawing.
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