Dinosaur Day 🦖

            SMART START ventured back to prehistoric times to learn about dinosaurs! Students experienced these captivating creatures through a variety of hands-on lessons and activities. 

Read About Dinosaur Day At School Below! 🌋

        Preschool Paleontologists put on aprons, goggles and gathered tools to prepare for an exciting excavation. All received their own fossilized egg with a dinosaur hidden inside. After chipping, picking, dusting, cracking and sanding, various species were discovered such as Triceratops, Velociraptor and Spinosaurus!

         SMART START Artists gathered in the outdoor classroom to decorate a wooden dinosaur magnet and a jumbo T-rex Linked Here! Paint, glue, tissue paper, markers and Do A Dot bonkers were used. Each creation was labeled with a child's name and "OSAURUS" for a personal touch.

          Classmates enjoyed playing a cooperative learning board game "Dinosaur Escape." The class collaborated to save the dinosaur pieces before a volcano erupted! Activities such as these promote positive social skills such as turn taking, team building, sharing and good sportsmanship.

           Friends formed a circle to listen to a themed read aloud. After the story, questions regarding the subject matter were asked and answered. 

Here are some facts we learned:

• Dinosaurs and many other animals have gone extinct (no living members in a group/species).
• Scientists believe that a large asteroid hit the earth and caused the dinosaur extinction.
• Dinosaurs lived in the Mesozoic Era. The three periods are: Triassic, Jurassic & Cretaceous
• Some dinosaurs were carnivores (ate meat) and others were herbivores (ate plants). 
• Chickens (Like our outdoor classroom pets!) are closely related to dinosaurs. 

           Stencils and crayons were utilized to create and color Pterodactyls, Tyrannosaurus Rexes and Stegosauruses. Pupils challenged their fine motor abilities rubbing each design until a dinosaur appeared. 

           Future Archeologists constructed a "SMARTSTARTOSAURUS" using pretend play fossils.

            To conclude this unit, friends free played with various dinosaurs, nature items and their wild imaginations!

             Learning about dinosaurs in Early Childhood Education is an essential introduction to history and STEM (science, technology, engineering & math). These studies foster an interest in the sciences, develop critical thinking, expand vocabulary, instill a desire to discover and so much more. Young learners are fascinated by these topics and their natural curiosity should be encouraged!

 🦖SMART START🦖