Skip to main content
HHMI BioInteractive
  • Español
  • Site Search
  • Log In/Create Account
  • BioInteractive Resources
  • Planning Tools
  • Professional Development
  • About Us

How Did Dinosaurs Regulate Their Body Temperatures?

A montage of images from the activity

Topic

  • Anatomy & Physiology
  • Homeostasis
  • Evolution
  • Paleobiology
  • Math & Computational Skills
  • Data Analysis

Resource Type

  • Activities
  • Lessons

Level

High School — GeneralHigh School — AP/IBCollege
Saved By
17 Users
Share This
View in Spanish

Description

This activity extends concepts covered in the film The Origin of Birds. Students analyze and interpret data from a scientific paper to explore thermoregulation in living and extinct animals, including dinosaurs.  

The activity challenges students to use data to investigate the following question raised in the film: How did dinosaurs regulate their body temperature? Students will consider whether dinosaurs regulated their body temperature more like birds (endotherms), reptiles (ectotherms), or something in between. In the process, they will learn about the methods used to determine animals’ metabolic rates, and will analyze, interpret, and graph scientific data.

The “Resource Google Folder” link directs to a Google Drive folder of resource documents in the Google Docs format. Not all downloadable documents for the resource may be available in this format. The Google Drive folder is set as “View Only”; to save a copy of a document in this folder to your Google Drive, open that document, then select File → “Make a copy.” These documents can be copied, modified, and distributed online following the Terms of Use listed in the “Details” section below, including crediting BioInteractive.

Student Learning Targets

  • Analyze and interpret scientific data.
  • Make claims based on evidence from scientific data.
  • Participate in a collaborative discussion about the evidence with classmates.

Estimated Time

One to two 50-minute class periods.

Key Terms

ectotherm, endotherm, growth rate, homeostasis, mesotherm, metabolism, resting metabolic rate, thermoregulation

Primary Literature

Grady, John M., Brian J. Enquist, Eva Dettweiler-Robinson, Natalie A. Wright, and Felisa A. Smith. “Evidence for Mesothermy in Dinosaurs.” Science 344, 6189 (2014): 1268–1272. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1253143.   

To access this article, set up a free AAAS account.

Terms of Use

Please see the Terms of Use for information on how this resource can be used.

Accessibility Level (WCAG compliance)

PDF files meet criteria. Spanish files meet criteria.

Version History

Date Published 08.18.15
Date Updated 04.09.20

NGSS (2013)

HS-LS1-7, HS-LS4-1; SEP2, SEP4, SEP5, SEP6

AP Biology (2019)

SYI-2.C, EVO-1.N, EVO-3.B,EVO-3.C ; SP1, SP2, SP4

IB Biology (2016)

2.8, 5.1, 8.1

AP Environmental Science (2020)

Topic(s): 2.6
Learning Objectives & Practices: ERT-2.H, SP1, SP3, SP5

IB Environmental Systems and Societies (2017)

3.2

Common Core (2010)

ELA.RST.9–12.2, ELA.RST.9–12.4, ELA-WHST.9–12.1
Math.S-ID.1, Math.S-ID.3, Math.S-ID.6, Math.S-ID.7; MP2

Vision and Change (2009)

CC1, CC4; DP1, DP2, DP3

Materials

Resource Google Folder (Link)
Educator Materials (PDF) 647 KB
Student Handout (PDF) 908 KB
Educator Materials - Español (PDF) 1 MB
Student Handout - Español (PDF) 1 MB

Use This Resource With

Video Resource
Great Transitions: The Origin of Birds

Educator Tips

Hear how educators are using BioInteractive content in their teaching.
Educator standing in front of a photograph of a falcon. Play Video Previous Slide Next Slide
/
1-Minute Tips

The Origin of Birds

Valerie May explains how she uses the BioInteractive short film "Great Transitions: The Origin of Birds," along with its related activities, with her students. She also notes that many of BioInteractive's resources align to NGSS standards.
View Article
Previous Slide Next Slide
Close Modal

Explore Related Content

Other Resources About Birds

Showing of
Image from the activity
Data Points
Thermoregulation in Dinosaurs
Image from the interactive showing outlines of two elephants.
Click & Learn
How Animals Use Sound to Communicate
Photo of a hawk from the video
Film Activities
Activity for The Origin of Birds
Photo of a bird fossil from the activity
Lessons
Living Dinosaurs: Fact or Fiction?
Image of a chicken skeleton from the interactive
Click & Learn
Comparative Anatomy of the Domestic Chicken
Montage of finch pictures from the interactive
Click & Learn
Sorting Finch Species
Image of a beak of a finch
Film Activities
Activity for The Beak of the Finch
Image from the activity
Lessons
Evolution in Action: Data Analysis
Photo of a finch's head and beak
Labs & Demos
Beaks As Tools: Selective Advantage in Changing Environments
Photo of a finch
Card Activities
How Can We Explain Evolutionary Relationships among Species?
Image of a bird from the film
Short Films
Great Transitions: The Origin of Birds
Screen shot of quiz screen
Interactive Videos
Interactive Assessment for The Origin of Birds
Picture of a bird in flight
Scientists at Work
The Origin of Flight: What Use Is Half a Wing?
Screen shot of the quiz
Interactive Videos
Interactive Assessment for The Beak of the Finch
Graph from the activity
Data Points
Effects of Natural Selection on Finch Beak Size
Photo of a finch
Short Films
The Origin of Species: The Beak of the Finch

Other Related Resources

Showing of
Image from the activity
Data Points
Thermoregulation in Dinosaurs
Screenshot of the virtual lab
Virtual Labs
Stickleback Evolution Virtual Lab
Image of a mosquito
Lessons
Tracking Genetically Modified Mosquitoes
Image of a lizard from the activity
Card Activities
Look Who's Coming for Dinner: Selection by Predation
Image from the activity
Lessons
Blood Glucose Data Analysis
Image from the video of Lattimer with a coelacanth
Animated Shorts
Animated Life: The Living Fossil Fish
Two foot prints on a the surface of a rock
Phenomenal Images
Laetoli Footprints
Photo of a hawk from the video
Film Activities
Activity for The Origin of Birds
Photo of a bird fossil from the activity
Lessons
Living Dinosaurs: Fact or Fiction?
Image of a stickleback being eaten from the interactive
Clips
Stickleback Fish Environment
HHMI BioInteractive
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Newsletter Signup
  • HHMI.org
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility