How Did Dinosaurs Regulate Their Body Temperatures?

Topic

Resource Type

Level

High School — General High School — AP/IB College

Saved By

18 Users

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

Educator Tips

Hear how educators are using BioInteractive content in their teaching.

Educator standing in front of a photograph of a falcon.

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