Science Dinosaurs & Paleontology Conceptual 11–13 yrs

Dinosaur-to-Bird Transition

恐龙向鸟类的演化过渡

Description

Trace the evidence for the dinosaur-to-bird transition in depth: feathered theropods from the Liaoning Formation (China), the mix of dinosaur and bird features in Archaeopteryx, and the competing ground-up versus trees-down hypotheses for the origin of flight

Mastery Evidence

✓ Describes at least three specific feathered theropod fossils (e.g. Microraptor, Anchiornis, Sinosauropteryx) and what each tells us
✓ Describes Archaeopteryx as showing a mix of bird features (feathers, wishbone) and dinosaur features (teeth, clawed wings, long bony tail)
✓ Outlines the ground-up (running and leaping) and trees-down (gliding from trees) hypotheses for flight origin and the evidence supporting each

Assessment Prompt

If your child was told that a sparrow is technically a living dinosaur, could they explain the chain of fossil evidence that supports this — naming at least one key transitional fossil and describing what makes it part dinosaur, part bird?