Dinosaurs of Australia

STEMLinc Video Conferencing: Grab your Palaeontologist hat and tools as we discover fascinating fossils from Australia’s dinkum dinosaurs!  Discover the size, shape, diet and features of Australia’s dinosaurs. Create your very own dinosaur using provided materials.
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Year Level: F – 2

 Duration: 1 hour

 STEM in a box:

You will receive hands on materials and a teacher VC guide that also includes follow-up activities.

 Background Information:

Dinosaur remains have been found on every continent on Earth and we know these creatures dominated the planet’s ecosystems for around 140 million years. But despite their abundance elsewhere, few discoveries have been made in Australia. Given Australia’s geographic isolation many of Australia’s dinosaurs evolved as unique species adapted to extreme conditions.

Australia’s dinosaurs are known mainly from fragmentary fossils. Dinosaur fossils have been found mainly in the Eastern half of Australia (Queensland, New South Wales & Victoria). Today these fossils from these amazing creatures give us insight into what they might have looked like and how they may have lived.

Victoria may have had one of the world’s most diverse array of small ornithopod dinosaurs, which had a surprisingly hardy ability to survive at least 3 months of winter darkness annually. These ornithopods moved around on 2 legs, ate plants, lived together in herds for safety, and included unique features such as large eyes for the gloomy light.

 Prior Knowledge:

No prior knowledge required.

 Learning Intentions:

In this program students will:

• Learn about various dinosaurs of Australia
• Learn that fossils are evidence of those dinosaurs that once roamed Australia millions of years ago
• Compare and contrast the size, shape, diet and other features of Australian dinosaurs
• Understand the meanings of fossils and Palaeontologists
• Learn how they can identify various Australian dinosaurs

Activities:

In this program students will:

• Observe and listen to information about various dinosaurs of Australia
• Pretend to be Paleontologists
• Sing and move to the “I am a Palaeontologist” song
• Create a model of an Australian dinosaur out of plasticine.

 Victorian Curriculum:

Science – Biological sciences

• Living things have a variety of external features and live in different places where their basic needs, including food, water and shelter, are met (VCSSU042)

Science – Inquiry Skills

• Participate in guided investigations, including making observations using the senses, to explore and answer questions (VCSIS051)
• Compare observations and predictions with those of others (VCSIS054)

IMPORTANT:  Cancellation Policy

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   2. Any cancellations need to be received in time for STEMLinc to re-sell your tickets to other teachers.
   3. Please use the Eventbrite confirmation email to facilitate any cancellation of your booking.  That will automatically release your ticket for re-sale on our system.