Amber is the fossilized resin secreted by pine trees. Just as sap from
the
pine trees of today (use pine cone, if available, to demonstrate the
texture and appearance of sap) is sticky, insects stepping in the sap
were
held fast in prehistoric times. As the sap hardened, and more leaked
from
the tree, fossilized insects were eventually covered. The sap hardened
and
fossilized over time, leaving intact insect specimens for study today.
Place insect in small bottle cap. Slowly drip clear nail polish over
insect. Let it dry and repeat the process. Over time, the insect will
be
completely encased in the hardened nail polish, just like a true amber
fossil.
Pipe Cleaner Dinosaur Fossils
Materials:
a bulk of pipe cleaners
scissors
pictures or models of dinosaur fossils (optional)
Skills : fine motor, creativity, planning
This is a great activity as a follow-up to studying families of
dinosaurs.
Encourage your child to select a specific type of dinosaur he/she would
like to build. Ask them what things they will need to include in their
model. For example, Triceratops had three horns on its head, so this is
a
feature your child would need to include.
Once they plan the type of dinosaur and features to include, offer a
selection of pipe cleaners. Keep scissors handy to trim unwanted
lengths
from the pipe cleaner. For extra support and stability of the model,
your
child may need to intertwine two pipe cleaners for the backbone and
tail.
Start with the spine, and allow your child to add features; legs,
tails,
arms, etc, but winding the pipe cleaners together.
Dinosaur Masks
Materials:
three paper plates
stapler
crayons or markers
yarn
paper punch
construction paper
scissors
Fold each paper plate in half. Have you child decorate each to look like
dinosaur skin. On one plate, have them include eyes. This plate will be
the head portion, and the remaining plates will make up the mouth area.
Once all plates are decorated, take one plate and slide it partially under
the head. Staple in place. Repeat the process for the third plate,
sliding it partially under the second plate. Once the plates are stapled
together, punch one hole on either side of the head. Thread a length of
yarn through each hole, and tie in place. Fold one sheet of construction
paper in half lengthwise, and cut down the fold line. To turn each into a
row of teeth, cut several triangles out. Staple a row of teeth on each
side of the mask.
Place on top of your child's head and tie yarn under chin.
Naming Dinosaurs
Materials:
chalk or white board
paper
markers
crayons
On the chalk or white board, list and define common prefixes and
suffixes used to create dinosaur names. For example :
ankylo - stiff
ptero - wing
apato - deceptive
ceratops - horned-face
sauros - lizard
don - tooth
stego - covered
plesio - near
tri - three
proto - first
tyranno - tyrant
Ask the kids to 'translate' the names of common dinosaurs like ankylosaurus, apatosaurus, plesiosaurus, protoceratops, pteranodon,
stegosaurus, triceratops, and Tyrannosaurus.
Using paper and crayons or markers direct the kids to create an imaginary dinosaur using the prefixes/suffixes and draw what such a
creature might look like. (for example a tripterosaurus - three wing lizard)
Some references you may want to check out of your local
library in preparation include:
Ultimate Dinosaur Book By Dorling Kindersley Learning
Is also available at Amazon.com Here.
Usborne World History - Prehistoric World
Amber by Andrew Ross
Is also available at Amazon.com Here
Dorling Kindersley "Fossils" or "Prehistoric Life"
About the Author
Catie Hayes is founder/editor of WomanLinks.com,
a community of support, spirituality, growth and empowerment for women. She is a freelance writer, the single homeschooling mom of two, and an avid fan of laughter, spontaneous dancing, cats and chocolate (not necessarily in that order).
