Summer Adventure!

Classic in the Jurassic Measurement Activities

Dinosaur Train SportingPowered by Event a Ready To Learn Grant Powered by a Ready To Learn Grant

This out-of-school resource was developed by Maryland Public Television.

The contents of this activity were developed under a grant from the Department of Education. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. [PR/Award No. U295A100025, CFDA No. 84.295A]. • © 2015 Public Broadcasting Service. • © The Jim Henson Company. JIM HENSON’S mark & logo, Dinosaur Train mark & logo, characters and elements are trademarks of The Jim Henson Company. All Rights Reserved. Powered by a Ready To Learn Grant

Summer Adventure! Topic: Measurement Theme: Dinosaur Train, Sporting Event Audience: Camp, Ages 4-5

Introduction It’s the Claw Stars versus the Prehistoric Predators! During this week’s adventure, children will divide into two teams and participate in a sporting event called Classic in the Jurassic, Jr. Children will prepare for the event and take part in a series of activities while learning how to measure attributes such as length, height, distance, weight and capacity. Each section of this weeklong unit is introduced by a video clip or online game that encourages children to explore concepts and skills related to the math topic measurement.

Math Overview This unit focuses on important math skills for 4- to 5-year-olds: exploring measurable attributes and learning to measure. Refer to More About Math to learn additional information about these math concepts and skills as they relate to Classic in the Jurassic, Jr. learning activities.

Before You Begin Print and copy the following documents for the week’s activities:

• Golden Laurel Leaves (Six leaves are needed for each child. If possible, laminate the leaves for durability.)

• Start Marker printouts (two copies)

• End Marker printouts (two copies)

• Dinosaur Target printout

Use the following materials to create and decorate a sample team flag to display in the room.

• Flag material: Piece of fabric or large sheet of butcher paper • Flagpole: wooden dowel • Art supplies: Paint, markers, crayons or fabric paint

Install the following apps on your mobile device (if available):

• Dinosaur Train: All-Star Sorting

• Dinosaur Train: Classic in the Jurassic, Jr: Bridge Builder

• Dinosaur Train: Classic in the Jurassic, Jr.: Chow Time

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Summer Adventure! Topic: Measurement Theme: Dinosaur Train, Sporting Event Audience: Camp, Ages 4-5

Handy Resource Guide

Get Ready! Your learning adventure includes videos, online games and mobile apps, hands-on activities and books. Use this resource chart to plan ahead.

WATCH PBS KIDS Videos

Part 1: Dinosaur Train: Classic in the Jurassic Song and Dance (1:21)

Part 1: Dinosaur Train: Dinosaur Discoveries: Classification (1:26)

Part 2: Dinosaur Train: Even Bigger Than T-Rex (2:25)

Part 2: Dinosaur Train: Being a Big Dinosaur (1:52) READ Related Books

Part 1: The Amazing World of Dinosaurs by The Jim Henson Company PLAY Part 2: Prehistoric Actual Size by Steve Jenkins Online Games & Mobile Downloads

Part 1: Dinosaur Train: Opening Ceremony

Part 2: Dinosaur Train: All-Star Sorting

Part 2: Dinosaur Train: Classic in the Jurassic, Jr: Bridge Builder

Part 3: Dinosaur Train: Pinecone Pass

Part 3: Dinosaur Train: Air Show

Part 4: Dinosaur Train: Classic in the Jurassic, Jr.: Chow Time

Part 4: Dinosaur Train: Leaf Leader

Part 4: Dinosaur Train: Dinosaur Dive

Part 4: Dinosaur Train: Hydration Station

Part 5: Dinosaur Train: Roarin’ Relay

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Summer Adventure! Topic: Measurement Theme: Dinosaur Train, Sporting Event Audience: Camp, Ages 4-5

Handy Resource Guide (continued)

EXPLORE Hands-on Activities

Part 1: Team Flag (for two teams): • Flag material: Piece of fabric or large sheet of butcher paper • Flagpole: wooden dowel • Art supplies: Paint, markers, crayons or fabric paint

Part 1: Laurel Wreath: • Two-inch loose leaf ring for each child • Golden Laurel Leaves

Part 2: Bridge Building: • Start Marker printouts (two copies) • End Marker printouts (two copies) • Bridge-building materials: Wooden blocks, yardsticks, string, pieces of cardboard, etc. (All materials should be safe for children to walk on.) • Nonstandard units of measurement: Popsicle sticks, paperclips, blocks, etc.

Part 2: Dinosaur Dormitories: • Small, assorted plastic and/or stuffed dinosaurs • Nonstandard units of measurement: Popsicle sticks, paperclips, blocks, etc. • Recyclable materials for building: Cardboard, wooden sticks, construction paper, pipe cleaners, etc. • Adhesive: Tape, glue and stapler

Part 3: Dinosaur Toss: • Dinosaur Target printout • 8-12 beanbags or balls (4 to 6 beanbags of the same color per team. If all the beanbags are the same color, mark them and designate a set for each team.)

Part 4: Dinosaur Snacktime: • Balance scale (one or more) • Snacks: Small crackers, cookies, grapes, etc. • Small flat-bottomed coffee filters • Assortment of different sized cups • Pitcher of water

Part 5: Obstacle Course: • Stopwatch • Nonstandard units of measurement: Popsicle sticks, paperclips, blocks, etc. • Recyclable materials for building: Cardboard, wooden dowels, construction paper, pipe cleaners, tape, glue, etc. • Obstacle course materials: Tables, stools, inflatable or plastic pool, rugs (for creating tunnels), brooms, chairs, cardboard boxes, etc. 4 Powered by a Ready To Learn Grant

Summer Adventure! Topic: Measurement Theme: Dinosaur Train, Sporting Event Audience: Camp, Ages 4-5

Part 1: Opening Ceremony (1 hour, 15 minutes)

PLAY Dinosaur Train: Opening Ceremony This game introduces the Dinosaur Train crew as they begin their own Classic in the Jurassic, Jr. challenge. The dinosaurs are divided into two teams: the Claw Stars and the Prehistoric Predators. Tell your children that they’re going to help the Claw Stars complete their first challenge.

Gather children at your computer or interactive whiteboard so everyone can see.

Leader: Get ready for a week of Dinosaur Train fun! We’re going to spend the week playing games with the characters from Dinosaur Train, learning about measurement, and doing lots of physical activities. Let’s watch this introduction to Classic in the Jurassic, Jr. and get some clues about what’s in store for us. Are you ready? Let’s get started!

As a class, follow the directions, and sort the dinosaurs based on diet, color, size and other physical features. Have children take turns clicking on the appropriate dinosaurs, and ask the class to count aloud as dinosaurs are selected.

Ask children to explain their choices.

Leader: How did you know those were the biggest/smallest dinosaurs? How can you tell these dinosaurs have the longest necks?

After playing game, divide the children into two teams and explain that they will participate in similar events during the week.

Leader: We’re going to participate in our own “Classic in the Jurassic, Jr.” event this week. That means we’re going to do some fun, sporting activities just like our friends on Dinosaur Train. We’ll use both our brains and our bodies to complete the challenges.

We’re going to start by breaking into teams. You’ll work with your team the entire week to complete the Classic in the Jurassic, Jr. challenges. Vocabulary Hints for Leaders Prehistoric: relates to the time Help children line up shortest to tallest and assign every other child to Team A or Team B. before people lived here Once the teams are grouped together, identify Team A as the Claw Stars and Team B as the Prehistoric Predators. Predators: an animal that lives by eating other animals

EXPLORE Team Flags The first task for the Claw Stars and the Prehistoric Predators is to create a team flag.

Show the children the sample team flag you decorated. Distribute flag materials, art supplies and a flagpole to each team, and prompt each team to create a flag. Children may write their team name on the flag, or you may choose to write team names in advance. Remind the children that team flags should be carried to each sporting event during the week.

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Summer Adventure! Topic: Measurement Theme: Dinosaur Train, Sporting Event Audience: Camp, Ages 4-5

Part 1: (continued)

Next, give each child a loose leaf ring and a Golden Laurel Leaves. Prompt the children to write their name on the leaf. Help them attach the leaf to the ring and fasten it to their belt loop or other article of clothing so it doesn’t get lost. Tell the children they will collect Golden Laurel Leaves at the end of each sporting event to celebrate their participation.

Once the team flags are ready, organize each team behind their flag for an opening ceremony parade. Announce each child’s name and have them parade around the classroom.

Hints and Tips for Leaders Keep Going! If you have more time, explore the following resources: Remember to collect the leaf rings from each child before they go home each day.

WATCH Dinosaur Train: Classic in the Jurassic Song and Dance (1:21) Mr. Conductor leads the dinosaurs in an upbeat song celebrating the Classic in the Jurassic sporting event.

WATCH Dinosaur Train: Dinosaur Discoveries: Classification (1:26) Paleontologist Dr. Scott describes what the word classification means: dividing and sorting dinosaurs according to their features and characteristics.

READ The Amazing World of Dinosaurs by the Jim Henson Company Kids have many questions about dinosaurs: What did they look like? What did they eat? How long ago did they live? This introduction to the world of dinosaurs answers these questions and more.

Vocabulary Hints for Leaders Paleontologist: A scientist who studies prehistoric life

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Summer Adventure! Topic: Measurement Theme: Dinosaur Train, Sporting Event Audience: Camp, Ages 4-5

Part 2: Dinos Long, Tall and Short: Exploring Height and Length (1 hour, 15 minutes)

PLAY Dinosaur Train: All-Star Sorting In this game, children order three dinosaurs by height and match them to the right-sized house.

Allow children to take turns and play the game in small groups using a tablet or mobile device. Make sure everyone can see the screen, and then introduce the game. Tell children that the dinosaurs have arrived in Troodon Town for the Classic in the Jurassic, Jr. event and need a place to stay.

Start the game, and with the children, observe the houses and the dinosaurs. Then order the dinosaurs by height. Use words like tall, taller and tallest and short, shorter and shortest to describe the houses and dinosaurs. For example:

Leader: This dinosaur looks tall. Is there one that’s taller? This is the shortest house. Which dinosaur do you think belongs here?

Complete the game as a group. When you are sure the children have mastered it, move on to the next activity.

PLAY Dinosaur Train: Classic in the Jurassic, Jr: Bridge Builder Help build bridges so the dinosaurs can get around Troodon Town! Children will drag their fingers to measure the distance between two points, then choose the two sets of logs that equal the right length to complete the bridge.

Gather the children around your tablet or mobile device. Make sure everyone can see the screen, and then introduce the game.

Leader: We worked together as a whole class to explore height in the last game. Now we’re going to work in small groups to investigate length. Does anyone know what length is?

Help children define the word, and then explain how to play the game. Children will need to drag Vocabulary Tips for Leaders their finger from one point to another to measure the distance and then choose the two sets of logs that equal the right length to complete the bridge. Length: distance from one end to the other; how long something is Allow children to take turns playing in small groups.

EXPLORE Bridge Building In this activity, children will build “bridges” that stretch between a predetermined starting point and end point. (The “bridges” will actually rest on the ground so that children can walk across them safely.)

Ask the children to separate into teams. Designate the starting point and ending point for each team using the Start Marker handout and End Marker handout. The start and end points should be different distances for each team, i.e. 10 feet apart for the Claw Stars and 12 feet apart for the Prehistoric Predators.

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Summer Adventure! Topic: Measurement Theme: Dinosaur Train, Sporting Event Audience: Camp, Ages 4-5

Part 2: (continued)

Now encourage each team to work together to build a “bridge” that stretches from their start Vocabulary Tips for Leaders point to their end point. Provide building materials such as blocks, cardboard, paper, etc. Explain that the bridges are built on the ground for safety. However, encourage children to imagine that Gorge: A space that is deep and the bridges are stretching across deep gorges. Work with the children as they line up various narrow between two mountains building materials to stretch across the “gorge.”

Give children 15 minutes to build their bridges. When they are done, gather the two teams together and have each team attempt to cross the bridge without falling into the gorge. (If children aren’t successful on their first try, allow them to start over and try again.) When all the children have crossed the bridge, have them give themselves a round of applause.

Afterwards, ask the children which bridge they think is longer. Children may have differing opinions; lead them to an understanding of how they can measure and compare the bridges.

Leader: Some of you think the Claw Stars’ bridge is longer, and some of you think the Prehistoric Predators’ bridge is longer. It would be easy to compare if they were right next to each other, but they’re not. So, without moving our bridges, how can we find out for sure?

Listen to children’s ideas and bring up the idea of measurement if the children don’t think of it.

Leader: Have you ever measured the length of something? Can anyone explain how measuring works? Listen to children’s responses and confirm or correct their understanding of measuring length. Ask for two volunteers and demonstrate how to use a common item, such as a crayon, to measure the length of each child’s arm.

After measuring, tell the children:

Leader: Vijay’s arm is five crayons long. Kimberly’s arm is six crayons long. That means Kimberly’s arm is one crayon longer than Vijay’s.

Ask children to measure their bridges using the same method. Discuss a reasonable nonstandard unit of measurement to use. (Paperclips are small and may be difficult to use to measure long lengths. Let children discover this and try out larger nonstandard units.) Give children 5-10 minutes to measure.

Once children have finished their measurements, ask them which bridge is longer. Discuss why it is important to measure both bridges with the same nonstandard unit of measurement. You can ask them to modify the bridges so that they are the same length.

When the children are done with the activity, award them with a second Golden Laurel Leaves to attach to their leaf rings.

Keep Going! If you have more time, explore the following resources on the next page.

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Summer Adventure! Topic: Measurement Theme: Dinosaur Train, Sporting Event Audience: Camp, Ages 4-5

Part 2: (continued)

WATCH Dinosaur Train: Even Bigger Than T-Rex (2:25) Tiny and Buddy observe the differences between big and small creatures as they compare the height and size of the dinosaurs.

WATCH Dinosaur Train: Being a Big Dinosaur (1:52) Tiny and Buddy observe the differences between big and small creatures, estimate size, and use comparative vocabulary.

EXPLORE Dinosaur Dormitories The Dinosaurs have arrived for Troodon Town’s annual sporting event, the Classic in the Jurassic, Jr.— Vocabulary Tips for Leaders and they need a place to stay during the competition. The children’s task is to create dormitories Dormitory: A large room or a for the dinosaurs. building with many beds for people to sleep Working as a large group, sort the plastic or stuffed dinosaurs into two teams - Claw Stars and Prehistoric Predators. For example, they can be divided according to their physical attributes Nonstandard Unit of Measure: (winged dinosaurs and non-winged dinosaurs; dinosaurs that walk on two feet versus dinosaurs Use of different objects that walk on four feet) or you may divide them at random. (i.e. blocks, paperclips, pencils, paper) to measure length Now give each group of dinosaurs to the children’s team with the same name. Have the children order their dinosaurs shortest to tallest.

In order to build a dormitory, each team needs to determine the appropriate width and height to hold all of their dinosaurs. Encourage children to use nonstandard units to measure the tallest dinosaur and determine the height of the dormitory walls.

Next, children will line up the dinosaurs and determine measurements for the length and width of the dormitory. Encourage children to explore different combinations for lining up the dinosaurs (i.e., 2x2, 3x4, etc.) before using a nonstandard unit to measure for the width and length of the dormitory.

Now each team can refer to the measurements as they use the craft supplies and materials to build dinosaur dormitories. Remind children to provide a door that the tallest dinosaur can use!

READ Prehistoric Actual Size by Steve Jenkins This book shows prehistoric plants and animals at actual size. Have children use nonstandard units to measure the tuft of a ten-foot terror bird, the claw of a giant dinosaur or the body of a three-inch spiny shark. 9 Powered by a Ready To Learn Grant

Summer Adventure! Topic: Measurement Theme: Dinosaur Train, Sporting Event Audience: Camp, Ages 4-5

Part 3: Dinosaur Distances: Exploring Distance (1 hour, 15 minutes)

PLAY Dinosaur Train: Pinecone Pass Buddy has to throw the pinecone to his teammates to score a goal, but who should he pass it to? Follow Mr. Pteranodon’s directions and practice measuring distance to help the team win.

Gather children at your computer or interactive whiteboard so everyone can see.

Leader: So far, we’ve talked about measuring height and length. Now, we’re going to measure distances. If we do a good job, we can help Buddy’s team win some points!

Start the game and listen to Mr. Pteranodon’s directions. Before moving your cursor over the screen, ask the children to identify which teammate is closest to and farthest from Buddy. Then move your cursor over each of Buddy’s teammates. A number line will appear showing each teammate’s distance from Buddy. The higher the number, the greater the distance between Buddy and his teammate.

As you move to the next round, ask children again which of Buddy’s teammates are the closest to and furthest from Buddy. Ask them also if they know which of Buddy’s teammates is the second closest. If children need help, explain the idea of second closest and second furthest. Then ask for a volunteer to click on the appropriate dinosaur.

Once you are satisfied that children understand the directions, allow them to continue playing the game on their own in small groups.

EXPLORE Dinosaur Toss In this activity, children will toss beanbags towards a target. They will measure the distance from their beanbags to the intended target in order to award points to the closest team.

Divide the children into the Claw Stars and Prehistoric Predators teams and give each team a set of differently-colored beanbags. Place the Dinosaur Target on the ground and explain that the goal of the game is to throw the beanbag as close to the dinosaur as possible. Have teams take turns throwing one beanbag at a time.

Ask the children how they can measure to determine which team’s beanbag is the closest to the target. Use a nonstandard unit such as pipe cleaners, pencil erasers or crayons, to measure which beanbag is the closest. The team with the closest beanbag earns one point.

Continue to play multiple rounds, using different units of measurement to determine the closest beanbag, until each team reaches five points. When both teams have five points, give the children a third Golden Laurel Leaves to attach to their leaf rings.

Keep Going! If you have more time, explore the following resource:

PLAY Dinosaur Train: Air Show Help the dinosaurs fly and glide to victory by following Mr. Pteranodon’s directions on where to land in relation to other objects. As children play, encourage them to estimate distance and use comparative vocabulary. 10 Powered by a Ready To Learn Grant

Summer Adventure! Topic: Measurement Theme: Dinosaur Train, Sporting Event Audience: Camp, Ages 4-5

Part 4: Working up an Appetite: Exploring Weight and Capacity (1 hour, 15 minutes)

PLAY Dinosaur Train: Classic in the Jurassic, Jr.: Chow Time The dinosaurs are hungry! Add food to the scale until it’s balanced. When you’ve got it right, watch them chow down!

Find three objects in your classroom that are significantly different in weight (for example, a heavy book, an apple and a paperclip).

Leader: We’ve done lots of measuring so far for our Classic in the Jurassic, Jr. event. We’ve measured height, length and distance. What about weight? Does anyone know what weight is or how to measure it?

Listen to the children’s responses and confirm or correct their ideas. Define weight for the children and explain that it describes how light or heavy something is.

Leader: Weight is a measure of how light or heavy something is. For example, your doctor weighs you when you have a checkup, or you may have seen fruits and vegetables being weighed at the market.

Now show the three objects you collected and place them side by side. Encourage children to work in pairs or small groups and discuss which object they think is the heaviest and which one is the lightest.

Ask for a volunteer to share his or her answer with the class, using comparative words like heaviest and lightest. Have the child pick up the two objects, placing one in each hand and holding out each arm like a T.

Leader: What happens to your arms when you hold the two objects? How can you tell which object is heavier?

Tell the children that we cannot always determine the weight of an object just by looking at it. Explain that a pan balance is a type of scale that helps us figure out how much objects weigh, and whether one object is heavier or lighter than another.

Gather the children around your tablet or mobile device. Tell them that the dinosaurs in Troodon Town have worked up an appetite and need help weighing and balancing food in order to get a snack. Open the Dinosaur Train: Classic in the Jurassic, Jr.: Chow Time game and show children how to play one round. Then allow them to take turns playing the game in small groups.

PLAY Dinosaur Train: Hydration Station In this game, children learn about capacity as they fill eggshells with water and dump it in the right-sized watering hole to give the dinosaurs a drink.

Gather children at your computer or interactive whiteboard so everyone can see.

Leader: The dinosaurs in Troodon Town aren’t just hungry; they’re thirsty, too! They need you to help them fill up their watering holes. You’ll need to choose the right size container to deliver the water to each watering hole.

Access the game, and show the children how to play the first round. Model how to use comparative vocabulary like some, more, most, less, and least. Then allow the children to take turns playing in small groups. 11 Powered by a Ready To Learn Grant

Summer Adventure! Topic: Measurement Theme: Dinosaur Train, Sporting Event Audience: Camp, Ages 4-5

Part 4: (continued)

EXPLORE Dinosaur Snacktime Children will measure out an appropriate snack for themselves using a balance scale and pitcher of water.

Gather the children at a table. Explain to the children that now it’s their turn to prepare and enjoy a snack.

Set up a balance scale and place a weight (for example, a handful of plastic dinosaurs) on one side of the balance scale. Place a flat bottom coffee filter on the other side of the scale. Have children measure their snack by placing enough of the snack food (for example, crackers, cookies or grapes) on the other side to balance the scale. You can predetermine the number of dinosaurs that would equal a reasonable snack or have your children experiment together to come up with an appropriate number.

Also have your children choose a cup for themselves and fill it with water.

As the children eat their snack, give them a fourth Golden Laurel Leaves to attach to their leaf rings.

Keep Going! If you have more time, explore the following resources:

PLAY Dinosaur Train: Leaf Leader There’s a hungry dinosaur caught in the middle of this tug-o-war game! Children will balance the weight of the dinosaurs on each side of the tug-o-war rope to move the leaf in the middle and give the dinosaur a snack.

PLAY Dinosaur Train: Dinosaur Dive Cannonball! In this game, children will fill up the swimming hole with water by choosing the right sized dinosaur to dive in and raise the volume of water to the correct target.

EXPLORE ZOOM: Water Relay This physical challenge invites children to work together to get water from one bucket to another. When the race is over, help children brainstorm different ways to measure the water in each team’s bucket.

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Summer Adventure! Topic: Measurement Theme: Dinosaur Train, Sporting Event Audience: Camp, Ages 4-5

Part 5: Closing Ceremony (1 hour, 15 minutes)

PLAY Dinosaur Train: Roarin’ Relay The Dinosaur Train crew needs to run, jump, and crawl through this obstacle course to the finish line! Children will compare the height of different dinosaurs and obstacles, then choose the right-sized dinosaur to run through three different relay courses.

Gather children at your computer or interactive whiteboard so everyone can see.

With the children, observe the obstacles and choose a dinosaur to complete the relay. Reinforce the vocabulary children have used through- out the unit (for example, tall, short, and long) as you describe the obstacles and dinosaurs. For example:

Leader: This obstacle looks tall. Which dinosaur is short enough to run under it? This obstacle is about as tall as the last. Which dinosaur has long legs that could walk over it?

Complete all three rounds of the game as a group.

EXPLORE Obstacle Course Children will put their measurement knowledge and skills to the test as they design and build an obstacle course for the other team.

Gather the children together in a workspace that will allow them room to build and experiment. Then introduce the activity.

Leader: In the last game we played, the dinosaurs had to race through obstacles to get to the finish line. Now, each team is going to create a real-life obstacle course for the other team.

Group the children by team. Explain that each team will create an obstacle for the other team. Then, all of the Prehistoric Predators teams members will run through the obstacle course created by the Claw Stars and vice versa.

Let the children know that they will need to use what they know about measuring height, length, distance, weight and capacity to create an obstacle for the other team. As a group, brainstorm ideas for safe obstacles.

Examples: • A hurdle that’s taller than knee height • A tunnel that is so short, a team member will have to crawl through it • A hula hoop that a team member will have to jump several feet to land in • A weight that’s so heavy it needs to be lifted with two hands • A wading pool filled so full of water that only one person at a time can step in it without it overflowing

Give children 20 minutes to work on their obstacles.

When the teams are done, arrange the obstacles and determine which team will go first. Start the race, and have team members tag the next child on the team until obstacle course is competed. Now it’s time for the next team to complete their obstacle course.

Time each initial run with a stopwatch or timer and write down the total time needed to complete the races. Then allow multiple runs of the obstacle courses, challenging each team to beat their original time. When they have done so, congratulate all the children, encourage them to do a team cheer, and give the children a fifth Golden Laurel Leaves to attach to their leaf rings. 13 Powered by a Ready To Learn Grant

Summer Adventure! Topic: Measurement Theme: Dinosaur Train, Sporting Event Audience: Camp, Ages 4-5

Part 5: (continued)

EXPLORE Closing Ceremony Have children mark the end of the Classic in the Jurassic, Jr. with a closing ceremony that celebrates their great work!

First, have children measure their head circumference with strips of paper. Trim the paper to the right size, and help children glue their laurel leaves to their paper strips. Next, have each child put on his or her Golden Laurel Leaves crown and ask each team to find their flags. Lead a final parade, complete with flags and crowns, through your space.

Keep Going! If you have more time, explore the following resource with the children:

EXPLORE Dinosaur Train: Field Guide This online field guide introduces children to different kinds of dinosaurs. Click on “size” to see how many “kids” tall different dinosaurs are. Ask the children if they ever thought that a kid could be used to measure a dinosaur’s height! What else could be measured in kids? Encourage the children to use their bodies to measure the length and width of your room or the length of your hallway—or head outside to measure the distance between the slide and the swingset.

Classic in the Jurassic, Jr. Parade!

This out-of-school resource was developed by Maryland Public Television. The contents of this activity were developed under a grant from the Department of Education. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, 14 and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. [PR/Award No. U295A100025, CFDA No. 84.295A]. • © 2015 Public Broadcasting Service. Powered by a Ready To Learn Grant

Summer Adventure! Dinosaur Train Sporting Event

More About Math Background for Leaders

This unit helps 6-8- year-old children practice important math skills such as number and operations, measurement, data collection and analysis, and spatial skills.

Measureable Attributes Guide children in exploring length and height in the following ways: • Compare the length or height of two or more objects • Order objects by length or height • Recognize the relationship between height and length—i.e., the longer of two objects is taller • Use comparative vocabulary (such as tall, taller, tallest) to describe the height of two or three objects

Children should gain practice in measuring and estimating length using nonstandard units like paperclips, Unifix cubes or sheets of paper. They should be able to tell how many paperclips are used to measure the length of a dinosaur from the week’s activities. This task requires visual comparison and/or counting on (early addition).

Weight Children may begin to explore weight by describing the weight of objects as heavy or light in comparison to one another. Introduce them to a pan balance scale as a tool for measuring weight. Explain the scale is balanced when both sides hold the same amount of weight. When the scale is unbalanced, children should be able to determine which side is heavier, and should practice adding or subtracting items to balance the scale. Encourage children to use math vocabulary such as more weight, less weight, balanced and level.

Distance Children this age can explore distance by comparing distances between two or more objects. Prompt them to use terms close, closer and closest; far, farther and farthest; and in between to describe location. They should be able to recognize when something is the second closest or the second farthest. Children should also gain practice in using nonstandard units to measure from various points in one direction. As with measuring length, this task requires visual comparison and/or counting on (early addition).

Capacity Children ages 4 to 5 can begin to explore capacity in a limited way. They should be able to determine which of two or three containers holds more, and should be given practice using comparative vocabulary such as some, more, most, less and least.

This out-of-school resource was developed by Maryland Public Television. The contents of this activity were developed under a grant from the Department of Education. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. [PR/Award No. U295A100025, CFDA No. 84.295A]. • © 2015 Public Broadcasting Service. • © The Jim Henson Company. JIM HENSON’S mark & logo, Dinosaur Train mark & logo, characters and elements are trademarks of The Jim Henson Company. All Rights Reserved.

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