Download Dino Scene Investigation

Dino Scene Investigation
Please use this information to help you and your students get the most from your visit.
Your workshop
Workshop name
Dino Scene Investigation
Meeting pointSchool Reception.
Please be there five minutes before the start time.
A Science Educator will meet you and guide you to your room.
Duration
45 minutes
Minimum ratio For Year 2, 1 adult : 8 pupils
For Years 3+, 1 adult : 10 pupils
Maximum group size 30 pupils
Please ensure you meet the required minimum adult : pupil ratio.
Natural History Museum Dino Scene Investigation Page 1
About this workshop
How do we know what dinosaurs really looked like? How do we use evidence to learn more about animals that
lived millions of years ago? Pupils will handle rocks and fossils, and find out what they are, what they can tell
us and how palaeontologists study them. They will learn about the importance of collecting things and how
the Museum’s collections are sorted and studied by different scientists.
Pupils will handle and examine rock and fossil specimens to develop their skills in identifying fossils. Some
fieldwork images and tools are used to show pupils how palaeontologists study fossils. Pupils will then help
Museum staff work out the identity of mystery specimens. They will spend some time carefully brushing sand
from a specimen before being asked to name the features they recognise, such as the teeth, skull and eye
sockets. They will then draw and measure their specimen, and compare it to known dinosaurs in order to
identify what species it is.
The workshop ends with a summary of the features they have interpreted and clarification of the dinosaur
evidence they have found. Pupils will be encouraged to continue gathering evidence about their dinosaur
specimens (Allosaurus or Edmontosaurus) either in the Dinosaurs gallery or online.
Note: Pupils will be split in to five groups for this activity - please plan this in advance with pupils and helpers.
The activity works best if you visit the Dinosaurs gallery after the workshop.
A note about behaviour
Our science educators will lead your workshop. We work to make it an inspiring and inclusive experience for all
pupils and we rarely have problems with behaviour. However, teachers have overall responsibility for the
behaviour of their pupils and we expect you to support us with this where necessary. Pupils benefit
significantly when teachers and accompanying adults also get involved in the workshops, so please do join in
when appropriate.
Health and safety
Please make sure your pupils wash their hands after the session. Pupils will be provided with goggles to stop
them getting sand in their eyes – please make sure they wear them. There will be crates on the floor – please be
aware of this when walking round the room. Science Educators will mention potential hazards during the
session.
Before your visit
It will be helpful if pupils have encountered fossils as a concept in class.
Pupils can bring in any fossils they have found for discussion. The workshop will highlight and reinforce the
relevance of practical enquiry and communication skills learnt in science lessons.
After your visit
There are a number of areas on our website to support your visit.
• Dino Directory: www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/dino-directory/index.html
• Baryonyx video: www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/dino-directory/baryonyx.html
• Putting the skin on Stegosaurus video:
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/putting-the-skin-on-stegosaurus.html
Natural History Museum Dino Scene Investigation Page 2
Evaluation of the workshop
To help us assess the workshop’s effectiveness, we would be grateful if you and your pupils could complete
feedback forms on the day. The teacher form will be given to you at the start of the workshop. On leaving the
session, feedback slips may be provided for the pupils to complete before leaving the Museum. Please hand
these in to any of the visitor desks.
Skills/practical techniques
• carefully excavating a specimen
• observing features to identify the specimen
• making a scientific drawing of observed features
• measuring a specimen
• comparing evidence with data
• interpreting evidence to form a conclusion
Learning objectives
•pupils will find out that some rocks contain the remains of animals and plants, and that these are
called fossils
• pupils will learn that scientists examine fossils to find out about animals and plants that lived a long
time ago
• pupils will develop observation and interpretation skills
National Curriculum links
This activity’s content falls within the following statements, but does not necessarily support the breadth of
content to which the statement refers.
Science
Keg Stage 2 – Year 3
Rocks
Pupils should be taught to:
•compare and group together different kinds of rocks on the basis of their appearance and simple physical
properties
• describe in simple terms how fossils are formed when things that have lived are trapped within rock
Key Stage 2 – Year 6
Evolution and inheritance
Pupils should be taught to:
•recognise that living things have changed over time and that fossils provide information about living things
that inhabited the Earth millions of years ago
•identify how animals and plants are adapted to suit their environment in different ways and that
adaptation may lead to evolution
Natural History Museum Dino Scene Investigation Page 3