Prehistoric Animals Lesson Plans

In this lesson learners explore how scientists determine what prehistoric animals looked like based on their bones. They draw a picture of the skull of a Tyrannosaurus Rex by copying an image from an overhead or book.

2nd graders conduct research on the internet and write a report about dinosaurs. In this dinosaurs lesson plan, 2nd graders learn how prehistoric animals became extinct.

Learners study dinosaurs as prehistoric animals. They determine what dinosaurs ate, what their characteristics were, and where we might see examples of dinosaurs today. They compare dinosaurs with other animals using pictures.

This lesson has learners define and name different types of dinosaurs. The state the characteristics of dinosaurs.

Students investigate fossils through reading Digging Up Dinosaurs and the study of a scale triceratops head.  In this dinosaur fossil lesson, students students each draw a portion of a picture of a dinosaur head.  Students must enlarge the head to fit the grid on a piece of paper.  After it is assembled the students color it. Students read books related to dinosaurs.

This lesson has students explore animal folktales and art. In this kangaroo lesson, students examine the photos of artwork from Pennsylvania of exotic animals.  This lesson has students will recognize that animals are portrayed differently by different artists. This lesson has students discuss dogs and list vocabulary about dogs.  This lesson has students add details. This lesson has students compare and contrast their image of the animals.

In this lesson students determine characteristics that are common to predators and scavengers using pictures of dinosaurs for models. In small groups they discuss the differences between meat-eating and plant-eating dinosaurs then answer a series of questions to contrast predators and scavengers.

Students examine the differences between a scavenger and a predator.  In this predator lesson students research an animal and study its physical traits. 

Students complete a unit on dinosaurs. They explore various websites, create a dinosaur skeleton using pasta, construct a dinosaur diorama, write an essay, create a book about dinosaurs, and list and summarize theories about dinosaur extinction.

In this lesson students take a pre-test to show their prior knowledge of dinosaurs. Using the internet, they reasearch the time period in which they roamed the Earth. Focusing on the area of Connecticut, they compare and contrast the large and small dinosaurs in which bones were found. To end the lesson, they make dinosaur footprints out of clay or plaster.