The Boy Who Found a Dinosaur Lesson Plan

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Academic Standards

 

Reading Objective:

Children will learn about paleontology as they read about a boy who found a dinosaur bone.

 

Science Focus:

dinosaurs, fossils

 

ELA Skills:

key details, vocabulary, writing

 

Page 4 Skill:

read a chart

 

Vocabulary:

fossil, fragile, paleontologist

 

CCSS:

SL.2.3, RI.2.1, RI.2.4, RI.2.10, W.2.3

 

Guided Reading Level:

M

 

Lexile Level:

540L

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Provide students with some background on dinosaur science.

Build background knowledge (10 min.)

Watch our video “The Science of Dinosaurs.” After children have finished watching the video, discuss the following question:

  • What would you do if you were to find a dinosaur fossil? (Answers will vary.)
  •  

Preview vocabulary (3 min.)

Next, play the online vocabulary slideshow. This issue’s featured words are fossil, fragile, and paleontologist.

Set a purpose for reading (5 min.)

  • Pass out the issue, and discuss the cover. Ask, “What would you have done with the bone if you were Nathan? Who could you have given the bone to if you wanted to find out more about it?”
  • Next, read the As You Read prompt on page 3: “Think about what Nathan and the scientists did to keep the bone safe.” Encourage children to think about this prompt as they read.

Read together (20 min.)

  • Pass out the Read and Think printable. Use it to check comprehension as you read the issue together, pausing to ask the questions.

Assessment: Reading Checkpoint (15 min.)

  • Pass out the Reading Checkpoint to review key concepts from the issue and assess students’ proficiency on key nonfiction reading skills.
  • Use the online game show to gauge comprehension and reinforce the issue’s content. Students can play by themselves or in teams. For each question they answer correctly, they get a point.

You can use our printable worksheets to focus on important science and ELA skills. Here’s how.

ELA Focus: Vocabulary (15 min.)

  • Use the Word Work printable to deepen students’ understanding of the words fossile, fragile, and paleontologist.

Editor’s Pick: Make Your Own Fossils (15 min.)

  • This fun project turns your kids into little paleontologists! See the first My Found Fossils sheet for directions on how to make “fossils” with salt dough.
  • NOTE: Make sure to follow the safety protocols for your school. And if you cannot make the salt dough, don’t worry—you can still do the project! Simply use paint and paper to make prints, cut them out, and hide them around the room!
  • When the fossils have been found, give each child a copy of the second sheet. Have them observe their fossils and record their findings!

ELA Focus: Report the News! (15 min.)

  • The Be a Reporter! skill sheet lets kids write a “breaking news” report about Nathan’s discovery, with just the right amount of scaffolding.
  • For extra fun, you can have students complete the sheet in small groups. Each group then becomes a television “news team” that reports the story for the class, passing the sheet along as they go.

 Here's a past issue you can use to extend your lesson on scientific discoveries from long ago:

  • Treasure Hunt!, October 2017. This issue explains how an archaeologist uses technology to find “buried treasure”— objects from ancient times!

You can find a higher-Lexile-level and a lower-Lexile-level version of the article online here:

  • Higher-Lexile level: 570L
  • Lower-Lexile level: 480L