“I always wanted my very own dinosaur. Then my parents found one for me deep in an Australian mine!” Explore the world of a palaeontologist through the eyes of child author Leaellyn Rich. Follow her true story as she assisted her Palaeontologist parents to uncover a new species of dinosaur and make her dream come true.

Students will also use art to explore the features and adaptations of an Australian dinosaur and dig through the layers of time to uncover fossil secrets along the Victorian coastline.

Dinosaur Cove is located near Warrnambool on Victoria’s shipwreck coast. It is home to many fossil findings and a specific dig site where a range of Australian dinosaurs have been unearthed.

You will receive hands-on printed materials and a teacher’s guide for this session.

In this program students will:

• Define the terms: palaeontologist, fossil, habitat and adaptation.
• Develop an understanding of the habitat and adaptations of Leaellynasaura.
• Determine how environmental factors can affect adaptations.
• Learn about the role of paleo artists.
• Apply their knowledge to draw their own dinosaur.

In this video conference students will:

• Listen to the story ‘My Little Dino’ written by Leaellyn Rich.
• Identify and examine fossils.
• Discuss the habitat and features of the Leaellynasaura.
• Use art techniques to create their own paleo art.
• Draw their own dinosaur based habitat, diet and features.

Science: Science Understanding

• Living things have characteristics that distinguish them from non-living things and things that were once living, including fossils (VC2S4U01)

Visual Arts: Developing Practices

• Develop visual arts practices by exploring and experimenting with visual conventions, visual arts processes and materials to create artworks (VC2AVA4D01)
• Use visual conventions, visual arts processes and materials to create artworks that communicate ideas, perspectives and meaning (VC2AVA4C01)