Dinosaurs: Ancient Fossils, New Discoveries
Article
Explore the Family Tree of Birds
Scientists on many parts of the globe are working to decipher the family tree of animals at the transition from non-avian dinosaurs to birds. Find out why it's such a hot topic.
Dinosaurs Alive Booklist for Children
Book List
Dinosaurs Alive Booklist for Adults
Meet the little dinosaurs of Ghost Ranch. Investigate evolution and the loss of flight in dinosaurs and birds. And dig deep into the lives of dinosaurs with these recommended reads.
Online Educator's Guide
New technology and new discoveries are leading scientists to reinterpret many of the most persistent and puzzling mysteries about dinosaurs. Make the most of your exhibit visit with this practical, printable guide.
Curriculum
What Teeth Tell Us
Are those sharp, pointy dinosaur teeth all the better to eat you with? Or are they designed for tough vegetation? Examine dinosaur teeth as a paleontologist would.
curriculum materials
What is a Dinosaur
It's not what they ate or when they lived that distinguishes dinosaurs from other reptiles. It's the hole in their hip socket. Find out how this feature affected the way dinosaurs walk.
Curriculum
What Makes a Dinosaur a Dinosaur
Can you walk like a dinosaur? Hint: The movement is not like lizards, crocodiles, and other reptiles; instead, it's more like birds. Investigate what else birds and dinosaurs have in common.
curriculum materials
Make Your Own Liaoning Diorama
Re-create the 130-million-year-old forest in what is now China to understand why this fossil site is of such vast scientific importance.
Curriculum
Understanding Cladistics
Explore the method scientists use to determine evolutionary relationships by creating a coin cladogram. Then try your hand at classifying a handful of dinosaurs.
curriculum materials
Understanding Geologic Time
How long have humans been on Earth compared to the length of time dinosaurs roamed the planet? Gain a new understanding of time by mapping out Earth's history.
