TEACHING DINOSAUR SCIENCE TO CHILDREN: A MARRIAGE OF PALEONTOLOGY AND PEDAGOGY

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - UA undergraduates in elementary education will blend paleontology and pedagogy to introduce school children to dinosaurs that are not purple and certainly don’t sing. More than 30 education students have prepared seven skits for elementary classes visiting Dinosaur Days 2002 at the University Museum to teach the children how scientists study dinosaurs and what they have learned.

"With the Dinosaur Days project, our fourth year education students were able to apply what they already knew about pedagogy to a topic that was new to them," said Linda Eilers, assistant professor in curriculum and instruction in the UA College of Education and Health Professions. "They learned a lot about dinosaurs, and learning how to dig for information will make them better teachers."

Eilers’ students discovered that there are many "cutesy" teaching units about dinosaurs that only scratch the surface and often communicate inaccuracies. To get past the commonly shallow content and develop their own lessons, her students had to learn more about dinosaurs and common myths. When the first draft of a script mentioned chewing, Nancy McCartney of the University Museum was quick to correct that misconception. Dinosaurs, Eilers explained, actually used their teeth to rip their food, but didn’t chew it before swallowing.

In their skits, the students will answer such questions as Did dinosaurs eat plants? Did an asteroid kill off the dinosaurs? and What modern creatures survive from the time of the dinosaur?

"Dinosaur Days is an excellent opportunity for education students to interact with nationally known scientists and ask questions," Eilers said.

Two Dinosaur Days speakers will make special presentations for educators in the Graduate Education Auditorium. Jack Horner, adjunct professor at Montana State University and curator of paleontology for the Museum of the Rockies, will speak on "How Scientists Do Science" on April 11 at 9:00 a.m. The following week, James Farlow, professor of geology from Indiana-Purdue University, will speak on "Dinosaurs 101" on April 18, 9:00 a.m. Although both talks are aimed at educators, the public is welcome.

###

Schedule of skits for elementary students:

University Museum Discovery Room

Each skit will run for 10 to 15 minutes.

Wednesday, April 10, at 8:30 a.m.

Monday, April 15, at 8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

Wednesday, April 17, at 9:00 a.m.

Friday, April 19, at 10:00 a.m.

Wednesday, April 24, at 8:30 a.m.