Daily Knowledge Boost with Kids Academy: Discovering Dinosaurs in Every Subject!

Interdisciplinary learning is so important for kids because it help them to build connections between subjects while viewing them from different perspectives. Exploring a specific topic from multiple angles builds critical thinking and problem-solving skills, all while reinforcing previously learned information. Finally, cross-curricular topics are just a lot of fun! They offer a sense of purpose through the connection kids can draw between subjects. 

Explore the Prehistoric World with Kids Academy

Today’s knowledge boost focuses on a fascinating topic: dinosaurs and fossils! Studying the prehistoric world teaches children about the world long before they were born, shedding light on important world history as well as interesting science facts that researchers study to better understand our world today. Moreover, the following lessons will boost your child’s knowledge and skills in social studies, science, ELA, and math. 

As always, all lessons featured below are found on the interactive Kids Academy Classroom interface, which enables students to complete each activity digitally and provides parents with an informative progress reporting system. 

1. Social Studies and English Language Arts

Lesson: Past Life and Culture

While primarily a social studies lesson, children must read and understand the non-fiction texts to learn intriguing dinosaur facts and how scientists learned of their existence. While doing so, they learn more about the past to boost their history knowledge. In this lesson, ELA and social studies join forces to teach learners more about life long ago. 

Activities Overview: 

• Dinosaur Discoveries Worksheet: What clues did scientists uncover to learn more about dinosaurs. Dig up interesting information by identifying which objects a paleontologist might find.
  
  
• Dinosaur Facts Worksheet: Did you know that the word “dinosaur” means “terrible lizard”? This worksheet will test your child’s comprehension skills while reading all about dinosaurs!

Jurassic Chase Brain Break for Kids

Can your child escape from a terrifying t-rex? This thrilling brain break will have your 3rd grader running, jumping, and ducking away from dinosaurs as they escape through the jungle landscape shown in this video. Take a break from learning and get active while still thinking and learning about dinosaurs!

2. Math

Lesson: Relating Addition to Multiplication

Kids must understand the connection between addition and multiplication to build their number sense. Why not do it while learning about fossils? These exciting math activities feature word problems and pictures that relate to fossils. In the following lesson, see how the science of fossils combine with word problems as math equations  teach more about both subjects.   

Activities Overview: 

• Groups of Fossils Worksheet: Multiplication is visually depicted through pictures of fossils to help understand the relationship between addition and multiplication.  
  
  
• Repeated Addition Worksheet: Repeated addition problems help kids form a deeper understanding on why multiplication makes our lives easier. All of this is done on a worksheet that features fossil illustrations! 

Dinosaur Math Brain Break

It’s crucial to keep children actively moving to ensure that they absorb all the new knowledge they’re gaining. This dinosaur-themed brain break video combines multiplication with movement. Students will jog and dance while reviewing that multiplication table of 8. 

3. Science

Lesson: Fossils

Learners will study fossil facts to gain a better understanding of ancient organisms and how scientists are able to study them long after they have left the earth. Explore the ancient world by discovering how researchers study the relics from the past. 

Activities Overview: 

• Fossils Lesson; Fossil Skulls Worksheet: Children will study fossilized dinosaur skulls to determine if they ate plants or meat when they were alive. 
  
  
• Fossils Lesson; Studying Fossils Worksheet: This activity will fascinate little learners as they learn all about fossils, how old they are, and the scientists who study them. 

4. Foundational Reading

Lesson: Other Genres

Children boost their text analysis skills while reading about a fascinating type of dinosaur called the Spinosaurus. Compare information about modern birds and mammals in the second activity with the information about the Spinosaurus. How are they different? Find the answers in the following activities.

Activities Overview:

• Other Genres Lesson; Spinosaurus Worksheet: Children read about the mighty Spinosaurus and report what they have learned by completing the worksheet. 
  
  
• Other Genres Lesson; Mammals and Birds Worksheet: The birds and mammals we have today are much different from the dinosaurs and birds that lived years ago. Kids will read about modern mammals and birds and check their comprehension with this true and false worksheet. 

Minecraft Dinosaur Fitness Run 

Take a break from learning with this exciting Minecraft dinosaur run that will have your learner up and running to collect emeralds as they run through a Minecraft-inspired jungle. Jump over lava pits and keep running to get to collect all the emeralds!

Your child will have a blast boosting their knowledge and digging for answers about the ancient world in all the above activities! Don’t forget that Kids Academy also has an independent learning option for more practice. Check out Talented and Gifted Online for a complete multi-subject learning program for preschool and grades K-3 that can be completed without the help of parents!

To learn more about Kids Academy Classroom, read this quick Classroom Guide.