Today we took a our first field trip to a wonderful place, Dinosaur Ridge. We started off using our mapping skills and highlighted the roads we traveled and marked off some landmarks to help us know how far we had traveled and how close we were to Dinosaur Ridge. On the top half of our worksheet each student was to identify 6 different things that would be seen while at Dinosaur Ridge, kind of a Bingo game.
On the ride, the students took turns reporting on the dinosaur book that was their homework from Tuesday. The students also brought a plastic dinosaur like the dinosaur in their book.
Decked out in our very best Paleontologist outfits we arrived at Dinosaur Ridge and started looking for all the interesting sites. We were greeted by a very colorful stegosaurus. It was the first thing checked off on a Bingo sheet.
At the base of the mountain was a map of the dinosaur finds on the mountain along Alameda Parkway.
The students got a close look at the dinosaur footprint.
There are many markers to help visitors gain a better understanding of what can be seen. This is a marker explaining and pointing out ripple marks in the stone.
We walked up the east side of the mountain, taking time at the tracks site to have a snack. We made it to the top of the mountain and took time to look out over Denver. Using our binoculars we tried to find our houses in Aurora. All we could really identify were the tall building at the DTC and the golf balls that are located on Buckley Air Base. Couldn't see our houses.
Back at the base of the mountain and at the visitor's center we took time to really practice our Paleontology skills and enjoyed the dinosaur dig. Scooping the gravel and dumping the buckets were the highlight of the dig. Finding the bones didn't seem as interesting as moving the gravel.
The students also found a cement slab with more dinosaur tracks. These tracks were ones that could be explored up close and personal.This was one of several new points of interest that have been added in the last few years.
Another new feature was the water structure that gold miners used when they were panning for gold in the 1800's. Playing in the water was a lot of fun.
Inside the museum we fount a life size replica of a triceratops skull. I took a quick photo as the girls were hiding inside the back of the skull. The students explored the triceratops' teeth and eye sockets.
The students took a minute to pose for us inside the triceratops skull.
The museum had footprints in the floor. This is a T-Rex footprint and it was bigger than all three of their feet.
A younger sibling got to ride a top a Utah raptor statue. The students wanted a ride also but realized that they were just too big to sit on the statue.
The students took time to investigate all the statues and exhibits. The museum is not very big but it is packed with interesting exhibits. It is the perfect size for 4 year olds.
Another view of the triceratops and the cute bone seating that they have around the museum.
The students tried on the different horns on exhibit. Then we found out that this horn was not really a horn but a claw that was found on a dinosaur's front foot.
After a long morning of investigating we took advantage of the picnic area and had lunch before headed back home. Having a dinosaur to play with in the car was a really good thing, because they played with the dinosaurs all the way home (about 40 minute drive).
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