Millions of years ago, long before humans existed, giant creatures called dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Some were as tall as a five-storey building! Some ate plants, some ate meat, and some could even fly. The word "dinosaur" means "terrible lizard" in Greek. Dinosaurs lived on Earth for about 165 million years -- much longer than humans have been around!
Dinosaurs lived during a time called the Mesozoic Era, which is divided into three periods:
| Period | When | What Happened |
|---|---|---|
| Triassic | 252-201 million years ago | First dinosaurs appeared. They were small. |
| Jurassic | 201-145 million years ago | Dinosaurs grew very large. Many new types appeared. |
| Cretaceous | 145-66 million years ago | Dinosaurs were everywhere. Then they went extinct. |
| Dinosaur | Type | Size | Interesting Fact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyrannosaurus Rex (T-Rex) | Meat-eater | 12 metres long | Had tiny arms but huge jaws with 60 sharp teeth! |
| Brachiosaurus | Plant-eater | 26 metres long | One of the tallest dinosaurs. Its neck was as long as a giraffe! |
| Triceratops | Plant-eater | 9 metres long | Had three horns on its head and a large bony frill. |
| Velociraptor | Meat-eater | 2 metres long | Small but very fast and smart. Hunted in groups. |
| Stegosaurus | Plant-eater | 9 metres long | Had large bony plates on its back and spikes on its tail. |
| Pteranodon | Meat-eater (fish) | 7 metre wingspan | Not a dinosaur but a flying reptile! Lived alongside dinosaurs. |
About 66 million years ago, all dinosaurs (except birds) suddenly disappeared. Scientists believe a giant asteroid (a huge rock from space) hit the Earth near Mexico. This caused:
But not all life ended! Small animals, birds, and sea creatures survived. In fact, scientists believe that today's birds are descendants of dinosaurs!
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Dinosaur | A group of reptiles that lived millions of years ago (means "terrible lizard") |
| Fossil | The remains or impression of a plant or animal preserved in rock |
| Extinct | When all members of a species have died and none are left |
| Herbivore | An animal that eats only plants |
| Carnivore | An animal that eats only meat |
| Palaeontologist | A scientist who studies fossils and ancient life |
My Favourite Dinosaur: Draw your favourite dinosaur. Write its name, whether it ate plants or meat, and one interesting fact about it.
Fossil Hunt: Go to your garden or a park. Look for interesting stones or shapes in rocks. Can you find anything that looks like it could be a fossil? Draw what you find.
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Millions of years ago, long before humans existed, giant creatures called dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Some were as tall as a five-storey building! Some ate plants, some ate meat, and some could even fly. The word "dinosaur" means "terrible lizard" in Greek. Dinosaurs lived on Earth for about 165 million years -- much longer than humans have been around!
Dinosaurs lived during a time called the Mesozoic Era, which is divided into three periods:
| Period | When | What Happened |
|---|---|---|
| Triassic | 252-201 million years ago | First dinosaurs appeared. They were small. |
| Jurassic | 201-145 million years ago | Dinosaurs grew very large. Many new types appeared. |
| Cretaceous | 145-66 million years ago | Dinosaurs were everywhere. Then they went extinct. |
Think about it -- dinosaurs lived for 165 million years. Humans have been around for only about 300,000 years!
| Dinosaur | Type | Size | Interesting Fact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyrannosaurus Rex (T-Rex) | Meat-eater | 12 metres long | Had tiny arms but huge jaws with 60 sharp teeth! |
| Brachiosaurus | Plant-eater | 26 metres long | One of the tallest dinosaurs. Its neck was as long as a giraffe! |
| Triceratops | Plant-eater | 9 metres long | Had three horns on its head and a large bony frill. |
| Velociraptor | Meat-eater | 2 metres long | Small but very fast and smart. Hunted in groups. |
| Stegosaurus | Plant-eater | 9 metres long | Had large bony plates on its back and spikes on its tail. |
| Pteranodon | Meat-eater (fish) | 7 metre wingspan | Not a dinosaur but a flying reptile! Lived alongside dinosaurs. |
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Dinosaur | A group of reptiles that lived millions of years ago (means "terrible lizard") |
| Fossil | The remains or impression of a plant or animal preserved in rock |
| Extinct | When all members of a species have died and none are left |
| Herbivore | An animal that eats only plants |
| Carnivore | An animal that eats only meat |
| Palaeontologist | A scientist who studies fossils and ancient life |
Did you know that dinosaur fossils have been found in India too? In Gujarat (Balasinor), scientists found fossils of a dinosaur called Rajasaurus -- meaning "King Lizard." Fossils have also been found in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu. India was once home to many dinosaurs!
About 66 million years ago, all dinosaurs (except birds) suddenly disappeared. Scientists believe a giant asteroid (a huge rock from space) hit the Earth near Mexico. This caused:
But not all life ended! Small animals, birds, and sea creatures survived. In fact, scientists believe that today's birds are descendants of dinosaurs!
A. Fill in the Blanks:
B. Multiple Choice Questions:
C. Write "Herbivore" or "Carnivore":
D. Short Answer Questions:
My Favourite Dinosaur: Draw your favourite dinosaur. Write its name, whether it ate plants or meat, and one interesting fact about it.
Fossil Hunt: Go to your garden or a park. Look for interesting stones or shapes in rocks. Can you find anything that looks like it could be a fossil? Draw what you find.