Hands-On Dinosaur Fossils & Ancient Life
WORKSHOP (previously named Hands-On Introduction to Fossils)
See it in action
WORKSHOP SEGMENT: THIS PALAEO PIECE IS PRETTY SWEET
This hugely fascinating object defies easy identification.
What is it? Perhaps it is a…
- Fossil coral
- Fossilized honeycomb
- Fossil mammoth tooth
- Layered rock (not a fossil)
WORKSHOP SEGMENT: BONING UP ON ANIMAL ANATOMY
Think you can tell what part of the animal a fossil is from?
Options include:
- A brontothere’s (extinct rhino relative) lower leg bone
- Scleral (eye bone) ring from an ancient marine reptile
- Gorilla jawbone
- Duck-billed dinosaur tailbone
Overview
‘Hands-on introduction to fossils’ is a new and unique program that allows attendees to handle, examine and discuss real and replica fossils in the structured narrative of a workshop. Immediately, the goal is to entertain and educate, not just about the fossils themselves, but the palaeontological aspects that underpin them.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Evolution
Fossilization
The ‘Tree of Life’ (phylogeny)
PROCESS
Attendees sit and the facilitator stands around tables, then:
- The specimen is handed around and the facilitator asks guests to determine its identity from a printed, multiple-choice card (and / or from options on a projector screen).
- All are invited to speak, ask questions and interact towards solving this puzzle.
- An attendee volunteers to reach into a cardboard box with a prop representing the correct answer (e.g. a dinosaur figurine) and the specimen at hand.
- More cards / props are used for learning outcomes.
- The process is repeated for the next specimen (9 specimens total)
- (For libraries) Near the end of the workshop, the facilitator highlights books in hand from the branch’s collection (which he sourced in advance) related to the learning outcomes for attendees to continue their (potentially lifelong) learning.
WHO IT’S FOR
Families, libraries, community centres, seniors residences, friends, schools, universities, birthday parties.
VENUE REQUIREMENTS
If no power source is available, the workshop can be done with hard copy materials. Otherwise, we supply a projector. See Process.
That aside, only requires tables and chairs enough to accommodate attendees and space. Beyond that, there’s no limitation on where it can be held.
AGE GROUPS
Good for any age* including: children, teens, adults, seniors, mixed-age groups, families. Facilitator can adapt the workshop to any comprehension level on the fly.
* Toddlers are welcome, but children aged four and up tend to get more out of the workshop than their younger cohorts. Presenter(s) have up-to-date Vulnerable Sector Checks (VSC) documents, available upon request.
WORKSHOP DURATION
The workshop itself is typically 90 minutes, with an additional 30 minutes total to set up and pack up (2 hours total time needed).
LANGUAGE
The workshop is currently only available in English.
AREAS SERVED
Currently serving the entire Southern Ontario region. Dino Bites will bring the workshop to you.
COST
$240 plus HST ($271.20) per workshop. For recurring sessions, quantity discounts are available.
Why fossils?
Many a professor will tell you that we’re living in a Golden Age of palaeontology. Never before have discoveries come so frequently, peeling back the formidable veil of deep time to reveal creatures unheard of. Thanks to unprecedented international collaboration and new technologies, there is an ocean of material coming out every year, mostly unbeknownst to an otherwise curious public. This workshop serves as a vehicle to convey concepts and improve paleontological literacy; thereby granting a means to better navigate that ‘ocean’.
If you think your demographic would enjoy handling, examining, pondering, and learning about real fossils from an expert, it would be an absolute pleasure to speak to you.
Interested, or have questions?
You can reach out to Marlowe directly if you’d like to know any details of this workshop. He’ll be happy to promptly reply.
CONTACT MARLOWE
Mobile: 647 766 6095
Email: hello@dinobites.ca