Embedded Files
The Age of the Dinosaur: 252 - 65 Million Years Ago
While humans have been on this earth for around 200,000 years, Dinosaurs existed for almost 200 million years. That's 1000x longer than us!!!
During this time a myriad of different animal species thrived, including terrifying predators, sneaky scavengers and hidden herbivores, as well as ancestors of modern mammals, insects and fish. Over millions of years, in order to survive and reproduce these creatures evolved specialised features.
There are 3 different types of animal adaptations:
Structural adaptations are changes to an animal's features, and include Brachiosaurs developing a long neck, or Pterodactyls developing wings
Physiological adaptations are changes to an animal's functions, and include bigger muscles for predators such as the T-Rex, or improved digestion for herbivores like Triceratops.
Behavioural adaptations are changes to how an animal acts, and include Styracosaurs and Triceratops traveling in herds for safety.
Image: Megafauna fossil from Melbourne Museum š¦“ (authors image)
Project - Design a creature that could survive in a prehistoric habitat
Step 1: Pick a Habitat
There are lots of different areas to survive in pre-historic earth (the time of the dinosaurs). Plains or fields, forests, rainforests, in the trees, in swaps or marshes, rivers, lakes, or in the open ocean.
Step 2: Decide on your food
Will your creature be a predator, herbivore, opportunist, omnivore or other? Think about what different species eat today and what is available
Step 3: What features will you need to survive?
The features of your creature will impact how it eats, acts and survives. You'll need to decide on its limbs, size, shape, and more.
What mouth and teeth will it need to eat its food?
How big will it need to be to hide, hunt, climb, chase or fly? Remember that the bigger it is the more it will need to eat or it may be slow.
What shape will it be? Will it be quadruped (walk on four legs), or will be walk on its hind legs? Or will it slither, swim or crawl? Does it have wings? It may need specialized limbs or features in order to survive its environment.
What color will it be? It might have camouflaged, or maybe it will make use of bright colors to appear dangerous or poisonous.
Step 4: Design your creature
Now is the time to create and present your creature. Here are some ideas about the different ways that you can do this:
Sketch, draw, or pain your creature
Construct a model of your creature using Lego, clay, plasticine, or something similar
If you have experience or want to learn a new skill you could use 3D modeling software to make a digital model.
You could create your creature in a game such as Spore or Minecraft
You could use an online resource like the one found here.
Remember that each of these will have limitations, so pick one that will be able to best show off your creation!
Click on the download to the right to download a template for creating your creature. There are also a number of examples of different creations below to inspire you to create an awesome creature!!!!
Design a Dinosaur (1).pdf
An example of a Lego creation
An example of a drawing
An example of a 3D Model
An example of a creation in the game Spore
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse