Education Update: Extreme Dinosaurs

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December 2007 December's update is dedicated to dinosaurs. Check out the new National Geographic article on these bizarre beasts and delve deeper with the accompanying online interactives, lesson plans, and new content from EdNet. In This Edition • Extreme Dinosaurs • Our Environment & Oceans for Life Community • New Book: Paul Sereno: Digging for Dinosaurs • Hands-On Explorer Challenge Photo of the Day See Photo Download Wallpaper
Question? Name South Africa's chief seaport, which is on Natal Bay. (See answer below.)     Extreme Dinosaurs This December, National Geographic is debunking dinosaur myths and exploring evolution from a different angle. Read the feature article by renowned writer John Updike and listen to an interview as he reveals what inspired him to write an essay on bizarre dinosaurs for National Geographic. Go online and view National Geographic dinosaur illustrations and listen as paleontologist Thomas Holtz discusses what we've learned since our 20th century coverage. Don't miss the gallery of Mesozoic monsters and test your dino IQ with a quiz that questions what you may have learned about dinosaurs in your school.   Explore EdNet's Newest Addition: Our Environment & Oceans for Life Community. Topics about our environment are now joined with ocean literacy to promote an understanding of our relationship with our natural resources and systems, including oceans, climate, global warming, marine sanctuaries, national parks, and more. Visit Our Environment & Oceans for Life Community. National Park Ranger Q&A on Bears – Submit Your Questions Now. On behalf of your students, post questions about grizzly bears and hibernation in our WildCam online forum. A national park ranger will answer your questions live from 8:00 - 10:00 p.m. EST. Share answers the next day with your class! Enjoy other activities during our daylong Bear Hibernation Event on December 6, 2007 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. EST. Post your questions in advance now. In the News Dino Black Market Fuels Peasant Police Combat in China Armed with only tractors and farm tools, Chinese peasants recently attacked police who had come to seize dinosaur bones the farmers had found. The clash called attention to the rise of a new type of dinosaur hunter in China's fossil-rich countryside: the "peasant paleontologist." Lesson Plans of the Month (By Grade Level) •  K–2: Dinosaur Bodies •  6–8: The Science of Digging Up Dinosaurs •  Activity: A Dinosaur's Neighborhood •  3–5: How Do Scientists Find Dinosaur Fossils? •  9–12: The Evolution of Dinosaurs Over Geologic Time In the Spotlight Read More! Have your 5–8 graders expand their understanding of bizarre dinosaurs by reading about Paul Sereno, National Geographic explorer-in-residence, and his work unearthing new dinosaur species. Paul Sereno: Digging for Dinosaurs, from the National Geographic School Publishing Group's Reading Expeditions series shows how Sereno brings art and science together to give us a new look at dinosaurs and how they lived. Find more great books like these at NGSP.com! Hands-On Explorer Challenge Invite your students to enter the 2008 Hands-On Explorer Challenge for the chance to win a trip to Australia! In no more than 300 words, have them tell us what they have discovered as a hands-on explorer in their world and why they find it interesting. Have students take a photograph that illustrates their essay. Sponsored by Purell®, the contest is open to kids who will be between the ages of nine and 14 during our expedition in July 2008. Students must enter by February 15, 2008. For details and full contest rules visit. National Geographic Bee Registration This is the last week for schools to register for the 2008 National Geographic Bee. Registration must be received by December 7, 2007. Go to nationalgeographic.com/geographicbee to find out how principals register their schools. Geography Awareness Week 2007 November 11–17 was Geography Awareness Week. Schools, families, and communities across the nation celebrated geography by hosting events and workshops featuring this year's theme of Asia. See some great examples of Geography Awareness Week activities here. Fun Extra! Check out MyWonderfulWorld.org's Passport to Asia for an itinerary packed full of exciting geo-tours through the vast continent's natural wonders, art, wildlife, and more!	Educator Favorites • Lesson Plans • Maps • Teacher Community • Teacher Store • EarthCurrent News   Digest • My Wonderful World   Geography Campaign
Best wishes for the holiday season. We'll see you in the new year! —The education team at National Geographic P.S. To make sure that you receive our e-mails, please add ngs@newsletters.nationalgeographic.com to your address book so that your filter will know our e-mails are legitimate.
Quiz answer: Durban. Try your hand at more GeoBee questions.
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