Dinosaur Investigation Box

                                                             Dinosaur Investigation Box

For my investigation box my theme was dinosaurs because it could easily be adapted to any age.  For the particular activities in this box the standards are geared towards third grade.  In an investigation box there are a variety of activities for students to explore in whichever order they find fit.  The investigation box works best as a center in the classroom for students to chose to go to.  This investigation box can be an introduction to a lesson or it could be an activity completed in the middle of the lesson. 

 

 

 I added a few books that were about Dinosaurs so that students could reference them while they were completing the activities.  The books had a lot of pictures to help identify the different dinosaurs and their characteristics.  I marked the pages that had information about fossils because one of the activities deals with fossils.  The students would then make the connection between the activity and the information. 

Before the students begin the activity they are to review the dinosaur cards provided in the box.  These cards give all the necessary information about each dinosaur that the students will need to complete their activities.  These are Montessori inspired cards to help children understand the most important factors about dinosaurs. 

For one of the activities the students are going to be creating their own fossil.  The fossil dough recipe ingredients will be included.  After creating their own fossil the students will be organizing their own dinosaur information guide.  This guide they will reference throughout the unit.  They will have a short direction sheet to follow along with:

1.     Fossil Fun: Choose three different dinosaur bones.  Take a small piece of fossil dough out of the container (about the size of a bouncy ball).  Then flatten the dough on a small square of construction paper.  Press the three different bones in the dough.  Then write your initials on the corner of the construction paper.  Set the fossil out to dry

2.     Dinosaur Information Guide:  Looking at your fossils think about which dinosaur you think the fossils belong to (reference the dinosaur information cards).  In your dinosaur booklet write about the different traits of the dinosaur you chose.  Color in your booklet and hand it into the science bin when you are finished! We will share these booklets.

  For the next activity the students will be measuring dinosaurs and recording the measurements in the information guide:

3.     Measuring Dinosaurs: Using a ruler measure each of the dinosaurs in the box.  Record your measurements in inches in the back of your dinosaur information guide.  Include the name of the dinosaur after referencing the dinosaur fact cards. 

 

 

For the final activity the students will have a cut-out of a triceratops.  They will complete the following:

4.     Triceratops Trivia: On the front of the dinosaur cut-out write three facts about the dinosaur you chose for you book.  On the back of the cut-out write the name of your dinosaur.  Find a partner who is finished with the rest of the activities and take turns guessing which dinosaur the other has. 

 

 

The standard that went along with the activity I taped on the side of the box for administrators to reference if necessary.  I used a paint strip because I think they are a great resource! Paint strips are free at any store that sells paint (Walmart, Lowes, Home Depot) and they make any project look more colorful!

Extension:
There are several different ways that this activity can be extended in the classroom or at home.  These extensions are meant to build on students knowledge.  They are as follows:
Classroom Extension:
1. Start a unit on dinosaurs and their habitats. 
2. Start a unit on fossils and rocks.
3. Have the students share as a whole group or with a partner their dinosaur information guide.
4. Research using the internet or the books provided about the dinosaurs habitat. 
Home Extension:
1. Take a trip to the natural museum of history to explore the dinosaur fossils. 
2. On a sheet of paper trace all of the dinosaurs that the students measured and have them label the measurements.  Then create a scene of the dinosaurs living in their habitat. 
3. Research using the internet or the books provided about the dinosaurs habitat. 

Resources for Extension:

Dinosaur Unit Plan: This lesson plan includes several weeks of lesson plans to use in the classroom to explore and investigate dinosaurs. 

 Museum of Natural History: The museum of natural history has one of the biggest dinosaur fossil exhibits in the United States.  There are several full dinosaur fossils that students can investigate and observe.  This is a great resource because it is so life-like and realistic.  Students can begin to relate and understand that dinosaurs are real. 

Enjoy! :)

Great Science Reads

                                                       Great Science Reads

The Everything Kid's Science Experiment Book by Tony Robinson is an excellent source for students to look up different science experiments using household materials.  The lesson plans provided on this blog use several household materials also.  This book will complete the task of creating science experiments at home.  The book expands from different science subjects such as chemistry and physics. 

Look inside Space, by Usborne, is an interactive book about space.  Each of the pages has interactive flaps for the students to open and close.  This book would be an excellent introduction to a space unit or activity.  This book answers questions that students will have when they first learn about space.  There are a variety of outer space lesson plans and activities provided on this blog.  This book would be excellent to utilize during the lessons and activities. 

The Kids Book of Weather Forecasting, by: Mark Breen and Kathleen Friestad is a good book to locate weather activities and the reason behind the forecasts.  After reading this book the students will have a better idea about how to forecast weather and why weather happens.  The different activities in the book would be a great way to extend the weather lesson plans provided. 

  Tornadoes by Seymoer Simon would be an excellent way to start off the tornado simulation experiment.  This book introduces the concepts of tornadoes with several actual pictures.  Simon describes how tornadoes are formed, where they occur and how they have been studied.

 

 Your Fantastic Elastic Brain, by JoAnn Deak is a great engaging book to read before discussing the brain or the five senses with students. The lesson plan on the blog for the five senses would go perfectly with this text.  This text introduces what the brain does and how it does it! The book is easy for students to follow.  The book provides several diagrams to help students understand the areas of the brain. 

Forces and Motion, by Sarah Angliss and Maggie Hewson, is a book based on hands on science.  The experiments in the book are easy and fun for children to create!  Each of the experiments can be performed with household items and they follow a step-by-step procedure.   Forces and Motion, explores different scientific phenomenon such as friction and the forces.  This text focuses on the laws of force and motion. 

Galileo for Kids, by Panchyk is a biography about one of the best known scientists in history.  This text explores Galileo's life and all of his experiments.  Throughout the book there are other activities to imitate the work that Galileo did.  This book would be best used with the pendulum lesson plan.  The activities in this book expand off of the pendulum by also experiment with gravity and motion.  The students will learn why the pendulum swings.  This book is great inspiration for students to expand their scientific knowledge. 

 

 

 

 

 

 What is Density? by Joanne Barkan introduces to students the concept of density.  This text woujld be ideal to read after the Sink or Float experiment.  Students would try and figure out why their objects sank and then after reading the book they would understand.  The illustrations provide the reader with what density is and how it works.  There are a few experiments with density such as soda bubbles that students can also try. 

Solids and Liquids, by David Glover is an information text about the different types of matter.  This book would be an excellent introduction before any matter experiment or lesson plan such as the Liquid Learning Lesson plan on the blog.  Within the book are several different experiments that students can perform to test the different types of matter.  There are also a variety of real life situations that the students can relate to that will help them understand the concepts.  This text covers concepts from the types of matter to different properties to chemical and physical changes. 

Science in Seconds for Kids, by Jean Potter is a perfect read for students! This book is an easy read and the experiments can be completed in less than ten minutes.  For parents who don't have a lot of time or for a quick activity these experiments are ideal.  Throughout the book there are illustrations of each step of the experiment making it easy to follow along.  Potter covers science themes from energy to colors to the environment.