Teaching article
A dinosaur day can focus on clues instead of unsupported trivia
Focus on fossil clues and uncertainty rather than unsupported facts.
Museum images and labelled paper replicas give children information to inspect. A pretend excavation becomes more useful when it includes position records and uncertainty, rather than implying every prop provides a complete scientific answer.
Make documentation and interpretation visible in the activity. Evidence-focused play benefits from clearly labelled replicas and qualified conclusions.
Keep the evidence record in the play
Read captions. Record model clues. Compare interpretations.
A paper excavation can practise location records.
Classroom replicas are not genuine finds.
What evidence supports the interpretation? Use a tabletop grid.
Resources
- Activity Setup Checklist — Write the selected event activity, materials and participation choices in the editable setup checklist.
Further reading
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