Classroom Questions

Questions for ‘Could Spinosaurus swim? That would make it a game changer’

An illustration of a Spinosaurus swimming in the water next to Cretaceous-era fish

A debate roils on about a swimming Spinosaurus, as illustrated here. The fierce dinosaur is getting back in the spotlight thanks to the latest Jurassic World movie.

Davide Bonadonna

By Science News Explores

To accompany ‘Could Spinosaurus swim? That would make it a game changer’

SCIENCE

Before Reading:

  1. Pick one dinosaur and describe two of its key traits. Based on your knowledge, how did this dinosaur move from one place to another? What physical characteristics led you to make this determination?
  2. Do you believe disagreements between scientific experts tend to help or hinder the scientific pursuit of knowledge? Briefly explain your answer.

During Reading:

  1. Describe one significant difference in the film portrayal of Spinosaurus in Jurassic Park III vs. Jurassic World Rebirth.
  2. How many millions of years ago did the Age of Dinosaurs begin? Approximately how many species of dinosaurs are known to have existed during the Age of Dinosaurs?
  3. How did the size of Spinosaurus compare with other known dinosaurs?
  4. What World War II setback hindered experts’ ability to study this dinosaur?
  5. Contrast the climate of the Moroccan Sahara region in the time of Spinosaurus with what it’s like today.
  6. Point out one notable feature of this dinosaur’s skeleton that aided researchers’ investigations of how it moved and where it lived.
  7. What specific evidence did Paul Sereno point to when he questioned Nizar Ibrahim’s conclusions?
  8. Spinosaurus was a type of spinosaur. Is it accurate to say that all spinosaurs were theropods? Explain why or why not.
  9. Is it accurate to say that all theropods were spinosaurs? Explain why or why not.
  10. Describe one physical similarity between Spinosaurus and Oxalaia quilombensis.

After Reading:

  1. What conclusion did Nizar Ibrahim make based on the structure of Spinosaurus‘ tail? What alternative theory did experts propose based on these same observations? Which theory do you feel is most compelling? Point to evidence from this story to support your opinion.
  2. Refer to your answer to Question 2 in Before Reading. After reading this story, would you answer this question the same way or differently? Explain how reading this story either (a) supported your earlier answer or (b) shifted your view. Point to an example from this story to support your answer.
  3. Besides paleontology, what is another field of scientific study that helped scientists devise theories about the lifestyle, behaviors or abilities of Spinosaurus? What does your answer suggest about the value of collaboration between experts from different branches of science? What is one field of study not mentioned in this story that might yield more insights into the lifestyle and behaviors of ancient species? Explain your answer.

OSZAR »