Title or topic of the lesson and Grade Level: Dinosaur and fossil stations; 2nd Grade Lesson Guiding

Questions: How did dinosaurs use their physical characteristics to defend themselves? How can we order fossils based on clues of when the dinosaur died? Can you describe dinosaurs characteristics based on a picture? Standards: 5.4.4.B.1 Fossils provide evidence about the plants and animals that lived long ago, including whether they lived on the land or in the sea as well as ways species changed over time. Use data gathered from observations of fossils to argue whether a given fossil is terrestrial or marine in origin. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.2.3 Write narratives in which they recount a well-elaborated event or short sequence of events, include details to describe actions, thoughts, and feelings, use temporal words to signal event order, and provide a sense of closure. Learning Goals and Assessments: Learning Objectives TSWBAT identify the job of a paleontologist. Assessments The students will search for fossils in sand using a paint brush and one hand to carry out the role of a paleontologist. The students will match a picture of a dinosaur to the correct description of their defense mechanisms. The students will choose a picture of a dinosaur. They will provide characteristics about that dinosaurs head, legs, body, and tail. The students will read clues that will guide them to order the fossilized dinosaurs into the correct time period (Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous).

TSWBAT recognize that dinosaurs used their physical characteristics to defend themselves. TSWBAT describe a dinosaur based on its physical characteristics. TSWBAT order fossils based on the time period that dinosaur has died.

Materials: Learning center, paper plates, hinges, crayons, writing prompt worksheet, bucket, sand, fossils, paint brush Pre- lesson assignments and/ or prior knowledge: The students will know paleontologists search for fossils of dinosaurs and plant life, which allows us to know they have once existed. The students will also know dinosaurs lived during the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous time periods. Students will know dinosaurs had various physical characteristics which allowed them to live and protect themselves against predators.

Lesson Beginning: The students will be instructed about the activities during this lesson. Each station will be thoroughly explained. The learning center will be located at the carpet, as the directions of how to complete creature features, dinosaur defenses, find the fossil, and how old will be clarified by the teachers. Directions of making a dinosaur, the writing prompt station, and paleontologist stations will also be addressed. Instructional Plan: - Students will be placed into groups designated by the teachers - Each group will be asked to begin at a certain station and will rotate accordingly Station 1: Learning Center - Creature Features - How Old? - Dinosaur Defenses - Find the Fossil! Station 2: Making a Dinosaur - Students will create a dinosaur out of paper plates - Students will color their dinosaur and fasten limbs at appropriate places Station 3: Writing Prompt - What would you say to a dinosaur if they were still living? - Students will express their thoughts about this question on lined paper provided Station 4: Paleontologist - Students will explore finding fossils in a bucket of sand - Students will use one hand and a paint brush to locate and remove sand of the fossils buried Differentiation: Students will be able to collaborate with group members if there are questions. Students will learn through many ways while participating in these stations. Hands on activities are provided in the learning center, while making a dinosaur, and becoming a paleontologist. Students will have the chance to write while answering the question what would you say to a dinosaur if they were still living? Questions: - How do you think dinosaurs defended themselves against predators? - Do you think you can tell us the physical characteristics of a dinosaur based on a picture? - What is the job of a paleontologist? Instructional Management: All groups will be created prior to the lesson by the teachers. Students will be instructed on which station they will be participating in and at what time during the lesson. Materials will be provided by the teachers and instructions of how to carry out the

activities at each station will be thoroughly explained. Students that cannot work productively will be removed from the group and will complete a worksheet. Transitions: After ten minutes at each station, students will be instructed to move to a different one. This rotation will be in a logical order. Closure: Students will be asked to share one idea they learned about dinosaurs that they did not know before. They will also be given the chance to show the class the dinosaurs they have created.