Modern animals face many of the same survival challenges that dinosaurs did. In this memory matching game, students match a common characteristic shared by a dinosaur and a living animal.
All Resources
Animal Features
Objectives
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Describe the similar features of dinosaurs and modern animals.
Materials
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Per pair of students:
24 Animal Feature cards
scissors
Key Questions
- Why did dinosaurs have those features (feathers, claws, etc.)? Is it the same reason modern animals have those features? Can we ever know for sure?
- Do the features look the same on modern and extinct animals? Why or why not? How could we know?
What To Do
Preparation
- Print the card template below on card stock.
- Cut out the 24 cards
Game
- Shuffle the cards.
- Place the cards face down on the table in a square. Place four rows of cards. Each row has six cards.
- Oldest student goes first.
- Student turns over two cards. If the titles of the cards match (for example, “Head gear for battles”), that student places those cards in a pile next to them. They have won that set of cards. That student can now try to find another pair of matching cards.
- If the cards do not match, both cards are flipped back face down and the other player takes their turn.
- Continue playing until all pairs have been found.
- The player with the most pairs is the winner.
Teacher Tip: Cut the ‘feature’ from the top of the cards to make a more challenging version of this game!
Extensions
- What keeps whales warm (since they don’t have fur or feathers)? blubber
- What other animals are like the moose and have head gear for battles? deer, cattle, sheep
- Why do cats have retractable claws? It keeps them sharp.
- Stegosaurus had spikes on its tail to protect itself. What modern animals use spikes? blowfish, hedgehogs, many lizards
Other Resources
Science World | Animal Features Cards PDF
