In this quick and inexpensive tutorial, we are going to learn about the king of dinosaurs and show you how to make a Dig A Tyrannosaurus Rex Kit. These excavations are super easy to make and are a great teaching resource to include in your next lesson or discussion about dinosaurs, fossils, paleontology, and more.
Materials:
Sand
Plaster of Paris
Water
Mixing Bowl
Wooden spoon
Measuring cups
Popsicle sticks – Popsicle sticks are inexpensive, readily available, and make great excavation tools.
Safety goggles or glasses – You we need to provide or borrow a set for each student.
Optional – Brushes and magnifying glasses.
Plastic Tyrannosaurus Rex toy - You can find these in dinosaur toy assortments or purchase them individually online.
Any small container that will fit your Tyrannosaurus Rex toy and allow room for the plaster mixture will work. I love rummaging through recycle bins for fun and unique containers I can use for excavations. For this tutorial I will use a plastic coffee can as my Tyrannosaurus Rex is pretty large.
Check out hundreds of exciting and unique dig kits! Excavating Adventures has a kit for everyone. Explore dig kits filled with rocks, minerals, gemstones, seashells, real fossils and more!
Directions:
- Place the Tyrannosaurus Rex toy in the coffee can.
- Mix 3 cups sand with 1 cup Plaster of Paris.
- Add 1 cup of water and mix until you have a pancake batter consistency.
- Pour the mixture over the Tyrannosaurus Rex toy. The toy may try to float. Simply wait about five minutes and push the toy back below the surface of the excavation.
- Make more mixture if needed until you are able to fill the container and cover the toy.
- Place the Dig A Tyrannosaurus Rex Kit in front of a fan overnight until it is completely dry.
- Distribute the excavation, excavation tools, and safety goggles to your Excavating Adventurer and have fun watching them dig in and discover the fun Tyrannosaurus Rex toy you have hidden inside.
Tyrannosaurus rex Unleashed: Roaring Fun Facts and Dino Delights!
Fun Facts about Tyrannosaurus rex:
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Tyrannosaurus rex, also known as T. rex, was one of the largest meat-eating dinosaurs that ever lived, measuring up to 40 feet (12 meters) long and standing about 15 to 20 feet (4.6 to 6 meters) tall.
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T. rex had one of the most powerful bites of any creature that has ever lived, with its jaws exerting a force of up to 12,800 pounds (5,800 kilograms)!
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Despite its fierce reputation, T. rex had tiny, two-fingered arms that were about the size of a human child's arms. However, those arms were still strong enough to help T. rex hold onto prey.
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T. rex had sharp, serrated teeth that could be up to 6 inches (15 centimeters) long. These teeth were designed for tearing flesh, and they grew back if any were lost.
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This mighty dinosaur lived during the Late Cretaceous Period, around 68 to 66 million years ago.
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T. rex was a bipedal dinosaur, meaning it walked on two powerful hind legs. It could reach speeds of up to 20 to 25 miles per hour (32 to 40 kilometers per hour).
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It is believed that T. rex had excellent binocular vision, which means its eyes faced forward and could create a 3D image of its surroundings.
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The name "Tyrannosaurus rex" means "tyrant lizard king" in Latin, reflecting its status as one of the most fearsome predators of its time.
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Some scientists believe that T. rex may have been partially covered in feathers, particularly when it was young. As it grew older, it likely lost its feathers and had scaly skin.
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T. rex is often depicted in popular culture with its mouth wide open and roaring. However, scientists are still uncertain about the exact sound it made.
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Fossil discoveries have revealed that T. rex had a keen sense of smell, which would have helped it locate prey from a distance.
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T. rex had a lifespan similar to that of a human, estimated to be around 30 years on average.
Remember, these facts offer a glimpse into the awe-inspiring world of Tyrannosaurus rex, but there is still so much more to learn and discover about this iconic dinosaur!
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