Science·Dinosaurs & Paleontology·conceptual
Real Dinosaurs vs Fiction
Distinguish real dinosaurs from fictional or commonly confused creatures — pterosaurs (flying reptiles) and plesiosaurs (marine reptiles) were not dinosaurs, and movie dinosaurs are not always accurate
Suggested ages 5–7
Learning journey
Your child is exploring the fascinating world of dinosaurs — learning about different species, understanding what fossils tell us about these ancient creatures, and discovering how scientists study life from long ago.
Evidence of understanding
- State that pterosaurs could fly but were not dinosaurs
- State that plesiosaurs lived in the sea but were not dinosaurs
- Identify at least one way a movie or cartoon dinosaur differs from the real animal
Assessment prompt
If Real Dinosaurs vs Fiction sees a flying reptile in a dinosaur book, can they tell you it's actually not a dinosaur but a different kind of prehistoric animal?
Standards alignment
No external standards are linked to this topic.