Senior Level Activities

Classification

Research the binomial system of animal classification: kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species—e.g. Tyrannosaurus rex.
List the evidence for dinosaurs being cold blooded/warm blooded. What does cold/warm blooded mean?
Some plant eaters (e.g. Hadrosaurs) had grinding teeth at the back to break down their food. The giant Sauropods had little peg-like teeth and possibly gizzard stones (gastroliths) to do this. Research features of modern animals that are similar. Compare, for instance, birds and crocodiles with sheep and koalas.

Find out which Australian animals have become extinct since the coming of Europeans.
When discussing the status of Australian animals, the terms extinct, vulnerable and endangered are sometimes used. What do these terms mean?
Many scientists believe that the dinosaurs were made extinct when the Earth was struck by a comet or asteroid 65 million years ago. Geologists have found the remains of a 180 kilometre wide crater which may have been caused by the impact. It is at Chicxulub, on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. Use an atlas to locate this site. Research other craters-particularly the Wolf Creek (W.A.) and Henbury Craters (N.T.) in Australia.
What reasons other than a meteorite strike can you think of for the dinosaurs' extinction? Think of catastrophes, epidemics, and atmospheric or environmental changes.

Make a collection of ancient plants. Press and mount the specimens. Write a short description of their features, distribution and their oldest fossil record.
The dinosaurs lived before there were many flowering plants. The herbivores would have lived on conifers, cycads and tree ferns. Find modern examples of these plants.

Find out what sorts of rocks are in your local area. Use a geological survey map to confirm whether the rocks are volcanic or sedimentary in origin, and to find out their ages.
Make a cardboard model to illustrate continental drift, using Australia and Antarctica. A cut-out of Australia with a skewer attached from behind would enable Australia to be moved along a slot from its Cretaceous position joined to Antarctica to its modern position.

Diagram of Continental Drift - Australia and Antarctica
When dinosaurs were in Australia, the southern part of the continent was attached to Antarctica. Research how Continental Drift accounts for the breaking up of the former continent of Gondwana and the drifting north of Australia.