- Performance Task
- Created by Defined Learning
- 11 Student Check-ins
- 5 Products
Introduction
Driving Question
- How does exploration help us learn more about science?
- What is an excavation or a dig?
Big Idea
- The Earth's surface features and atmosphere are a dynamic system operating over different time periods.
- Plants and animals have specific features, which affect their survival.
Essential Questions
- How has the Earth’s surface changed over time?
- How do structures and functions of animals affect their survival?
G.R.A.S.P.
Your team of dinosaur hunters needs to create a presentation that will help the movie producers know more about dinosaurs. Your presentation will need to give these people important information about where dinosaur bones can be found around the world. Your presentation should explain what types of dinosaurs are found in certain areas and why they were there. They should also understand how long ago they lived and how the Earth’s landscape has changed over time.
Role
You are a Dinosaur Hunter, also known as a Paleontologist. You are part of a team hired by leaders of a movie studio to help make sure a new movie about dinosaurs is accurate. They will need to know how the rock layers in which fossils are found tell a story of Earth’s past. You will need to use maps to help the audience understand the Earth’s features and how the features impacted where the dinosaurs lived.
Audience
Your audience will be the directors and actors that are working on the dinosaur movie. It will be helpful for them to learn more about what they are actually going to be doing in the movie. The movie will be showing the different types of dinosaur fossils that are found. Knowing more about the different kinds of fossils that are found in different rock layers of the Earth will be helpful information for them.
Situation
- Museum of the Rockies: The Process of Paleontology: http://www.museumoftherockies.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=oAfSE_Yn_r0%3D&
- For information on fossil excavation reference the following website: http://paleobiology.si.edu/dinosaurs/interactives/dig/dinodig.html
- To get an idea of some of the bones that have been excavated and the exhibits created please check the link below: http://travel.cnn.com/worlds-best-dino-museums-658206
Cross-Section Drawing
You are going to research different areas where dinosaur fossils have been found. Once you have done your research, you will need to create a drawing of the Earth’s layers where the fossils were found. Be sure your drawing shows the different layers of the Earth. You will need to explore more about how the Earth has changed over time. The drawing will need to include captions that show the different surfaces and what the different fossils are that have been found. For example, your cross-section drawing could show the different parts or layers of a riverbed or a canyon wall. Make sure your captions also tell what type of dinosaur you believe was there and the importance of the layer location.
Map and Write-Up
You are going to choose one type of dinosaur, such as the Tyrannosaurus Rex, to research and learn more about where these dinosaur fossils have been found. Then you will need to create a map of different locations around the United States where these fossils have been found. Your map should include physical features of the landscape and how those features might connect to the area’s past. You will create a short write-up describing the dinosaur fossils you have researched and the locations where these fossils were found. You may want to include actual pictures of the fossils and/or the locations to enhance your map and write-up.
Oral Presentation
You are going to create a 2-3 minute presentation that you will give to the movie studio leaders, the directors, and actors. This presentation should focus on one type of dinosaur, explaining why it is important, where it was found, and how that area that it lived in has changed over time. Be sure they understand where the fossil(s) were found and how the different layers of the Earth affected the fossil. Make sure to address why the dinosaurs may have lived in this area and how the area has changed from the time of the dinosaurs. To support your presentation you may wish to use pictures, drawings, and maps.
Movie Poster
The movie studio has asked your team to create a design for a movie poster to advertise the movie. Your poster should be creative and eye-catching. But you will need to have a correct representation of a fossil and a picture of the dinosaur it came from. For example, if you include a Tyrannosaurus Rex rib, be sure that the picture of the T-Rex shows its chest. Also, include where the fossil was located on the Earth’s surface and the layer of the Earth where the fossil was found.
Research Report
As a team, you are going to conduct research on fossils found in a certain location. Your team may choose any location in the world. You will need to focus on one type of dinosaur that was found in this area. Your report should focus on the dig site and the layers of Earth found there. You will want to think about the connection between the layer where the fossil was found and the actual dinosaur. What features did the dinosaur have that allowed it to survive and live in this area of the Earth? How has the Earth’s surface changed from the time of the dinosaurs until today? Answering these questions and gathering other information will help your team present a valuable research report to the movie studio.
Defined Learning Videos
Runtime: 7:10
At Project Exploration, becoming a Junior Paleontologist (JP) is more than just attending a summer camp. It is the entrance into a mentorship program that lasts throughout high school, one which can have a lasting effect on a teenager's future.
Defined Learning Resources
Dinosaur Fossils
Constructed Response
Dinosaur fossils have been found all over North America. Most of them were found in deserts. Many dinosaur fossils have also been discovered in the deserts of China and Argentina.
Dinosaur Fossils
Constructed Response
Most dinosaur fossils have been found in the deserts of North America, China and Argentina. But not just any desert will do. Local rocks have to be the right age. Dinosaurs lived during the Mesozoic era (from about 220 to about 65 million years ago). To find a dinosaur fossil like the Tyrannosaurus Rex, you'll need rocks about 67 million years old in the western United States.
Movie Poster
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What kinds of dinosaurs lived in North America?
Research Report
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How are rock layers connected to fossils?
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What dinosaurs have been found in North America?
Cross-Section Drawing
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What do layers where fossils are found tell us about the Earth and how it has changed over time?
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When did dinosaurs live?
Map and Write-Up
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Where have dinosaur fossils been found around the U.S?
Oral Presentation
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What do Earth’s layers represent?
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What types of dinosaurs are found in certain areas and why were they there?
Process Video
Design Process
Brainstorm Ideas
It's time to think about product development. You will begin with ideation, which is the start of the creative process. During the ideation phase, you will brainstorm with your group about all the potential ways you could approach this product. Remember, the more creative and innovative your ideas are at this stage, the better! Your group will need to check and make sure that each of your initial ideas are meeting the requirements related to the goal, audience and product description. What are the directions or criteria that need to be followed? Who is your audience and what will they need from this product?
Analyze & Decide
As you discuss the possibilities during your brainstorming, you will narrow the ideas down to those that seem like they would best solve the problem or address the challenge. Once you have narrowed down to two or three ideas, grab some paper and a pencil and make an outline or sketch a plan for each one. What will the product need to include? How will you best use the information that you found in your research to create it? What would the product look like based upon each idea?
After outlining your product ideas. Discuss with your group and decide on ONE that you would like to move forward with. When you have selected one idea, you will move on to the creation phase, keeping in mind that you may go through several rounds of creation and revision before you are ready to present.
Create & Revise
It is possible that while you are creating the first version of your product, you will develop more questions that need to be answered before you can continue. If so, you may need to do additional research. Reflect on how any new information affects your product and make revisions as needed.
Your group should also be looking at the rubric during the creation phase. Here, you can practice thinking critically and collaborating with your peers to understand what needs to be included in your product. Then, you should reflect on whether or not your initial work meets those criteria. If you realize that it does not, you may need to go back and make additional revisions.
As you work through the process of creating and revising your product, communication with your teacher and classmates will be very valuable. Asking for help and discussing your product with others can help you clarify whether or not your product meets the goal of the task and is appropriate for the audience.
Remember, creating this product is a fun opportunity to apply what you have learned about important topics in a more creative and independent way.
Cross-Section Drawing
Map and Write-Up
You are going to choose one type of dinosaur, such as the Tyrannosaurus Rex, to research and learn more about where these dinosaur fossils have been found. Then you will need to create a map of different locations around the United States where these fossils have been found. Your map should include physical features of the landscape and how those features might connect to the area’s past. You will create a short write-up describing the dinosaur fossils you have researched and the locations where these fossils were found. You may want to include actual pictures of the fossils and/or the locations to enhance your map and write-up.
Oral Presentation
Movie Poster
Research Report
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Related Content
Constructed Responses
Dinosaur Fossils
Dinosaur fossils have been found all over North America. Most of them were found in deserts. Many dinosaur fossils have also been discovered in the deserts of China and Argentina.
Flesch Kincaid Grade: 6.3
| Common Core Band | ATOS | Degrees of Reading Power® | Flesch-Kincaid | The Lexile Framerwork® | Reading Maturity | SourceRater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4th - 5th | 4.97 - 7.03 | 52 - 60 | 4.51 - 7.73 | 740 - 1010 | 5.42 - 7.92 | 0.84 - 5.75 |
Dinosaur Fossils
Most dinosaur fossils have been found in the deserts of North America, China and Argentina. But not just any desert will do. Local rocks have to be the right age. Dinosaurs lived during the Mesozoic era (from about 220 to about 65 million years ago). To find a dinosaur fossil like the Tyrannosaurus Rex, you'll need rocks about 67 million years old in the western United States.
Flesch Kincaid Grade: 8.1
| Common Core Band | ATOS | Degrees of Reading Power® | Flesch-Kincaid | The Lexile Framerwork® | Reading Maturity | SourceRater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6th - 8th | 7.00 - 9.98 | 57 - 67 | 6.51 - 10.34 | 925 - 1185 | 7.04 - 9.57 | 4.11 - 10.66 |