Objective

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to read and comprehend information about dinosaurs, and apply reading strategies to answer questions about the text.

Materials and Prep

• Dinosaur books or articles
• Paper and pencil

Activities

1. Start by selecting a dinosaur book or article that interests you. It could be about a specific dinosaur, or a general book about dinosaurs.
2. Read the text carefully, paying attention to important details and any new vocabulary words.
3. Take notes while reading, jotting down key information or interesting facts about the dinosaurs.
4. After reading, create a list of questions based on the text. These could be questions about specific details, or more open-ended questions to encourage critical thinking.
5. Answer the questions using evidence from the text. Remember to refer back to the book or article to find supporting information.
6. Once you have answered the questions, write a short summary of what you learned from the text. Include the main ideas and any important details.

Fifth Grade Talking Points

• "Dinosaurs lived millions of years ago and were a diverse group of reptiles."
• "They came in different sizes, from small ones like the Compsognathus to gigantic ones like the Argentinosaurus."
• "Dinosaurs were able to walk on two legs (bipedal) or four legs (quadrupedal), depending on their species."
• "They had various adaptations, such as sharp teeth for eating meat or flat teeth for chewing plants."
• "Some dinosaurs were carnivores, meaning they ate meat, while others were herbivores, meaning they ate plants."
• "Scientists have discovered and studied many fossils to learn about dinosaurs and their behaviors."
• "Dinosaurs became extinct around 65 million years ago, possibly due to a catastrophic event, like an asteroid impact."