Living in Yesterday and Today #4 - Extinction and Preservation

Making the salt dough.

The children were so interested in finding gold that they started looking for gold during their morning playtime in the forest. During their dig, a child cried, "I found a dinosaur bone!" This made the children wonder what happened to the dinosaurs? How were people able to find their bones?

Making the dinosaur imprints.

We researched the topic by watching videos from Brainpop Jr. The children learned that the dinosaurs died and through the process of fossilization people were able to know of their existence. We discussed the different theories (asteriod, volcanic activity, ice age, disease, and the gradually climate change) as to how the dinosaur became extinct.   We furthered our discussion into the animals that have become extinct (e.g. dodo birds) and ones that are endangered. We talked about the change of the animal's habitats and what people can do to prevent other species from going extinct. 

Baking the salt dough fossil.

Lastly, the children made their own dinosaur fossilss out of salt dough. The loved it and commented that the colour on the fossils really looked "old".