More About This Resource...

• This activity, available as a one-page printable handout, was designed to complement Dinosaurs Alive! — an IMAX film that follows AMNH paleontologists around the globe as they uncover some of the greatest dinosaur finds in history. This activity includes:

  • An overview that explains the evidence linking birds and dinosaurs and how paleontologists interpret fossil evidence
  • Instructions to help students observe birds—living dinosaurs—in their natural habitat
  • Questions to guide their analysis of the bird observation data
  • A fun fact about dinosaur weights

• Teacher Tip

  Supplement a study of paleontology with a classroom activity drawn from this Dinosaurs Alive! IMAX film activity.

  1. Ask students: How can paleontologists learn about dinosaur behavior? Are all dinosaurs extinct?
  2. Distribute copies of the activity sheet.
  3. Working individually or in small groups, have students complete the observation and analyze their data.
  4. As a class, review the groups' observations and analyses. What did they conclude about bird behavior? What clues to this behavior did they think might be preserved in the rock record?

• Topic

  Paleontology

• Subtopic

  Fossil Dinosaurs and Birds

• Subtopic

  National Science Education Standards
  Grades K-4:

  • Science as Inquiry CONTENT STANDARD A:• Life Science CONTENT STANDARD C:• Science and Technology CONTENT STANDARD E:• History and Nature of Science CONTENT STANDARD G:

  Grades 5-8:

  • Science as Inquiry CONTENT STANDARD A:• Life Science CONTENT STANDARD C:• Science and Technology CONTENT STANDARD E:• History and Nature of Science CONTENT STANDARD G:

  Grades 9-12:

  • Science as Inquiry CONTENT STANDARD A:• Life Science CONTENT STANDARD C:• Science and Technology CONTENT STANDARD E:• History and Nature of Science CONTENT STANDARD G:

• Learning Standard

  National Science Education Standards
  Grades K-4:

  • Science as Inquiry CONTENT STANDARD A:• Life Science CONTENT STANDARD C:• Science and Technology CONTENT STANDARD E:• History and Nature of Science CONTENT STANDARD G:

  Grades 5-8:

  • Science as Inquiry CONTENT STANDARD A:• Life Science CONTENT STANDARD C:• Science and Technology CONTENT STANDARD E:• History and Nature of Science CONTENT STANDARD G:

  Grades 9-12:

  • Science as Inquiry CONTENT STANDARD A:• Life Science CONTENT STANDARD C:• Science and Technology CONTENT STANDARD E:• History and Nature of Science CONTENT STANDARD G: