The T-Rex Skull

thingiverse

Title: Exploring the Tyrannosaurus Rex with 3D Printing and Fossil Discoveries In this engaging lesson, students will delve into the fascinating world of the Tyrannosaurus Rex (T. rex) by utilizing a 3D printable T. rex skull model from MakerBot Academy. The lesson plan, designed for 3-5 class periods, is structured over three days and incorporates interactive activities that help students understand the significance of fossils in learning about extinct creatures. Day 1: Introduction to Paleontology * Begin by asking students to list facts about living animals, such as size, speed, diet, etc., and discuss what we would know about an animal if its bones were the only remains. * Introduce the MakerBot T. rex Skull and photos of the dinosaur, prompting students to interpret it with both facts and guesses. * Ask students to draw muscles and skin on the T. rex, emphasizing the role of imagination in interpreting fossils. * Discuss how fossils are formed, emphasizing that only hard parts (bones and teeth) are preserved. * Divide students into groups and ask them to visit All About Sue, a website dedicated to the famous T. rex skeleton at the Field Museum. Students should record their answers to questions about what we know about Sue and how we know it. Day 2: How Do Fossils Form? * Review what students have learned about fossils and discuss the process of fossilization. * Assign students to draw diagrams demonstrating the process of fossilization for any animal they choose, describing key steps such as burial, decay of soft parts, and hardening of sediment into rock. * Instruct students to pretend they are paleontologists who have just pieced together a nearly complete T. rex. Students should describe the dinosaur and tell a story about its life based on fossil evidence. Day 3: Uncovering the Facts * Guide students through Zoom Dinosaurs, an online resource for learning about T. rex fossils. * Challenge students to find facts supported by fossil evidence and use their imagination to generate ideas based on these facts. Encourage discussion about what information can be concluded from fossils and how current knowledge of living animals can help us learn about extinct fossils. * Assign a project in which students create T. rex trading cards, including specific facts about the dinosaur, explanations for why these facts are believed to be true, and illustrations of the T. rex skull. Students should then trade their cards, explaining their choices to peers. By using this engaging lesson plan, students will gain a deeper understanding of how fossils can reveal information about extinct animals like the T. rex, while also developing critical thinking skills through interactive activities and discussions.