Objective

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to analyze and comprehend informational text about dinosaurs, and apply critical thinking skills to answer questions related to the reading material.

Materials and Prep

• Dinosaur books or articles
• Pen or pencil
• Notebook or paper

No prior knowledge is required for this lesson.

Activities

1. Choose a dinosaur book or article that interests you.
2. Read the selected text carefully, paying attention to important details and facts.
3. As you read, jot down any questions or interesting information in your notebook.
4. After finishing the reading, review your notes and select three key pieces of information to share with someone else.
5. Find a family member or friend and share your chosen facts about dinosaurs. Explain why you found them interesting.
6. Listen to the other person's chosen facts and ask them questions to deepen your understanding.
7. Write a short summary of the reading, highlighting the main points and any new insights you gained.

Eighth Grade Talking Points

• "Dinosaurs were a diverse group of reptiles that lived millions of years ago. They ruled the Earth for over 160 million years!"
• "Paleontologists study fossils to learn about dinosaurs. Fossils are the remains or traces of ancient organisms that have been preserved in rocks."
• "Dinosaurs were not the only creatures that roamed the Earth during the Mesozoic Era. Other animals like pterosaurs and marine reptiles also existed."
• "Dinosaurs can be categorized into two main groups: Saurischia and Ornithischia. Saurischians include the meat-eating dinosaurs, while Ornithischians were herbivores."
• "Dinosaurs became extinct around 65 million years ago. Scientists believe that a catastrophic event, possibly an asteroid impact, caused their extinction."