Since then, I check in on Jack Horner from time to time to see what he’s up to in the dinosaur world. Jack is now in his mid-seventies and still quite active. I learned that he’s been investigating the real possibility of bringing dinosaurs back to Earth, as suggested in the movie.
But, after many attempts, he’s discovered that you can’t clone dinosaurs with DNA from the blood of a mosquito preserved in amber. Apparently, he says, “All you get is a swarm of mosquitoes and maybe a few trees.” But you may be able to genetically engineer a chicken into a chickenosaurus. Imagine a chicken with teeth, a long tail, and three-fingered hands instead of wings, like a velociraptor or archaeopteryx. Now, that’s a chickenosaurus.
Chickens are dinosaurs. Did you know that? All birds are actually dinosaurs. Today, they are scientifically classified as avian dinosaurs. It’s the non-avian dinosaurs, the T. Rexes, Maiasaura, and stegosaurus-type dinosaurs, that went extinct sixty-five million years ago. So, next time you order chicken McNuggets, know that you are actually eating Dinosaur McNuggets.
My dinosaur digging experience inspired a new way of teaching, which I call “Learning through Adventure.” I recreated a dinosaur dig in my classroom with copy paper boxes, digging tools, and wooden dinosaur skeletons. With slides of my actual dig flashing on the classroom wall, I created an exciting atmosphere that engaged my students’ imagination and made learning an adventure.
So, come along with me now on a magical adventure, and together, let’s encourage our youth to strap on their hiking boots and inspire a JOY for learning through adventures in nature.
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The exciting fantasized version of how my character, Diane, earns her nickname Dino Diane in a lost world of living dinosaurs. Your adventure awaits on the Home Page!
Get a free copy of “Digging Dinosaurs” – a Discovery Activity created by D. J. Kristoff at DinoDianesAdventures.com
