Image of a T-rex
leonello calvetti/Alamy Stock Photo (Tyrannosaurus Rex)
Background Builder,

Fossil Facts

You are going to read about a girl who found an amazing fossil. Here are four facts to know first. 

From the May/June 2024 Issue

Give students background knowledge about fossils before they read this issue’s Big Read, “The Bone Hunter.”

Lexile® measure: 510L
Vocabulary: fossil, extinct
Featured Skill: Vocabulary, Main Idea,
Topic: Science,
Common Core Standards
  • RI.2.1 Key details RI.2.4 Vocabulary RI.2.5 Nonfiction text features RI.2.9 Compare two texts on a similar topic RI.2.10 Read grade-2-appropriate informational text SL.2 Participate in conversations about grade-2 texts
TEKS Standards
  • Science
    (9) Organisms and environments. The student knows that living organisms have basic needs that must be met for them to survive within their environment. The student is expected to: (B) identify factors in the environment, including temperature and precipitation, that affect growth and behavior such as migration, hibernation, and dormancy of living things; (C) compare the ways living organisms depend on each other and on their environments such as through food chains. (10) Organisms and environments. The student knows that organisms resemble their parents and have structures and processes that help them survive within their environments. The student is expected to: (A) observe, record, and compare how the physical characteristics and behaviors of animals help them meet their basic needs

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1) Dinosaurs roamed Earth millions of years ago.

leonello calvetti/Alamy Stock Photo (Tyrannosaurus Rex)

Tyrannosaurus rex

They first appeared 250 million to 200 million years ago. Dinosaurs lived on land. We know of around a thousand different kinds of dinosaurs so far. More are being discovered all the time!


2) Other amazing reptiles lived millions of years ago too.

Shutterstock.com

Top: ichthyosaur; bottom: pterosaur

Ichthyosaurs (IK-thee-uh-sorz) swam in the seas. They lived at the same time as dinosaurs. They looked a little bit like dolphins. 

Pterosaurs (TEHR-uh-sorz) lived at the time of dinosaurs too. They opened up their wings and flew through the sky. Did they have feathers? Scientists are debating it!


3) These animals died out.

Shutterstock.com

All dinosaurs are extinct. From left: Triceratops, Ankylosaurus, Parasaurolophus, Brachiosaurus

There are no more dinosaurs, ichthyosaurs, or pterosaurs left. They are all extinct. They died out millions of years ago.


4) When animals die, they can turn into fossils.

Shutterstock.com

This is a fossil of a Keichousaurus.

The shells and bones of dead animals can turn into rock over millions of years. Those rocks are called fossils.

People find fossils today. Read about a girl who changed the world with the amazing fossil she found in The Bone Hunter.

Big ships carry oil. Sometimes the oil spills. Oil can make penguins sick.

Slideshows (1)
Activities (4)
Skills Activities
Answer Key (1)
Slideshows (1)
Activities (4) Download All Quizzes and Activities
Skills Activities
Answer Key (1)

About the Article

Science Focus

Prehistoric animals, fossils

Step-by-Step Lesson Plan
Download the Lesson Plan

Implementation

  • Small group; whole group; independent reading

Pairings and Text Connections

Before-Reading Resources

  • Text Preview Bookmarks 

(10 minutes) Kids can cut out the nonfiction bookmark and use it to preview the text.

  • Play the Vocabulary Slideshow 

(5 minutes) Help students become familiar with the vocabulary word they will see in the article.

Suggested Reading Focus

  • Comprehension, nonfiction text features (30 minutes)

This article gives students background knowledge that will help them better understand this issue’s Big Read, “The Bone Hunter,” on pages 6-11.

After-Reading Skills Practice

(15 minutes)

  • Quiz: Comprehension check
  • Nonfiction Text Feature Hunt: Help students find nonfiction text features in the article.
  • Two Different Texts: Using this T-chart, students can compare and contrast “Fossil Facts" and “The Bone Hunter.” 

Text-to-Speech