🦕 CAPITAL LUCASAURUS'S RESEARCH WORKSHEET 🦕

Dinosaur Time Detective Mission

Researcher Name: _____________________________ Date Started: _______________

🔴 MISSION 1: THE TRIASSIC PERIOD (252-201 MYA)

🌟 KEY QUESTION 1: WHAT TRIGGERED THE TRIASSIC PERIOD?

The "Great Dying" - Permian-Triassic Extinction Event

Research: What happened? How many species died? What caused it?

How did this extinction CREATE OPPORTUNITIES for dinosaurs?

Research: What animals dominated before? What happened to them? Why did this help dinosaurs evolve?

🌟 KEY QUESTION 2: HOW DID CLIMATE IMPACT DINOSAUR EVOLUTION?

What was the Triassic climate like?

Research: Hot/cold? Wet/dry? Ice caps? Deserts? Why was Pangaea so dry inland?

How did this hot, dry climate AFFECT dinosaur evolution?

Research: Why were dinosaurs small? Where could they survive? Limited food? Competition with archosaurs?

Were dinosaurs DOMINANT in the Triassic, or just one of many groups?

Research: Compare dinosaur size/numbers to other reptiles like archosaurs

📍 Part 1: Additional Earth & Climate Research

1. What did Earth look like?

Research: Was there one big continent or many? What was it called?

2. What was the climate like?

Research: Hot or cold? Wet or dry? Ice caps?

3. What triggered the Triassic Period?

Research: The "Great Dying" - What was it? How many species died?

4. What plants grew in the Triassic?

Research: Were there flowers? What types of plants existed?

5. What else was alive besides dinosaurs?

Research: Archosaurs, pterosaurs, marine reptiles, early mammals?

6. How did the Triassic end?

Research: What extinction event? What caused it?

📚 TRIASSIC RESEARCH SOURCES

Record your sources AS YOU RESEARCH! Write down each book or website you use:

Source 1:

Title/Website: _________________________________________________________

Author or Organization: _________________________________________________

Date/Year: ________________


Source 2:

Title/Website: _________________________________________________________

Author or Organization: _________________________________________________

Date/Year: ________________


Source 3:

Title/Website: _________________________________________________________

Author or Organization: _________________________________________________

Date/Year: ________________


Source 4 (optional):

Title/Website: _________________________________________________________

Author or Organization: _________________________________________________

Date/Year: ________________


Source 5 (optional):

Title/Website: _________________________________________________________

Author or Organization: _________________________________________________

Date/Year: ________________

🦖 Part 2: EXPERT Dinosaur Challenge - Triassic

Goal: Research 5 Triassic dinosaurs including at least 1 Herrerasauridae, 1 prosauropod, and 1 from South America

Dinosaur #1: _________________________________

Scientific Name
Name Meaning
Family/Group
Time Period (Early/Middle/Late Triassic)
Diet
Size (compare to something familiar)
One Special Feature

Dinosaur #2: _________________________________

Scientific Name
Name Meaning
Family/Group
Time Period (Early/Middle/Late Triassic)
Diet
Size (compare to something familiar)
One Special Feature

Dinosaur #3: _________________________________

Scientific Name
Name Meaning
Family/Group
Time Period (Early/Middle/Late Triassic)
Diet
Size (compare to something familiar)
One Special Feature

Dinosaur #4: _________________________________

Scientific Name
Name Meaning
Family/Group
Time Period (Early/Middle/Late Triassic)
Diet
Size (compare to something familiar)
One Special Feature

Dinosaur #5: _________________________________

Scientific Name
Name Meaning
Family/Group
Time Period (Early/Middle/Late Triassic)
Diet
Size (compare to something familiar)
One Special Feature

🎓 Part 3: Bonus Expert Questions - Triassic

Were Triassic dinosaurs bipedal or quadrupedal (or both)?
Which group evolved first—theropods or sauropodomorphs?
What's the difference between dinosaurs and other Triassic reptiles?

🔵 MISSION 2: THE JURASSIC PERIOD (201-145 MYA)

🌟 KEY QUESTION 1: WHAT TRIGGERED THE JURASSIC PERIOD?

The Triassic-Jurassic Extinction Event

Research: What happened? How many species died? What caused it?

How did this extinction help dinosaurs become DOMINANT?

Research: Which groups died out? Why were dinosaurs more successful now than in Triassic?

🌟 KEY QUESTION 2: HOW DID CLIMATE IMPACT DINOSAUR EVOLUTION?

What was the Jurassic climate like?

Research: Warmer than Triassic? MUCH wetter? Sea levels? More green areas?

How did warm, WET climate allow GIANT sauropods to evolve?

Research: How did more rain → more plants → bigger herbivores? Why couldn't they get this big in Triassic?

How did continental breakup affect climate and dinosaur evolution?

Research: Did splitting Pangaea change ocean currents? Create milder coastal climates? Lead to different species on different continents?

📍 Part 1: Additional Earth & Climate Research

1. What did Earth look like?

Research: Did Pangaea stay together or break apart? What new continents formed?

2. What was the climate like?

Research: Warmer/cooler than Triassic? Wetter? Sea levels?

3. What triggered the Jurassic Period?

Research: What extinction event? How did this help dinosaurs?

4. What plants were most common?

Research: Flowers? Gymnosperms? Why good for herbivores?

5. What about the first birds?

Research: When did they appear? Most famous early bird? Connection to dinosaurs?

6. Why was the Jurassic so good for dinosaurs?

Research: What made the BIGGEST dinosaurs possible?

📚 JURASSIC RESEARCH SOURCES

Record your sources AS YOU RESEARCH! Write down each book or website you use:

Source 1:

Title/Website: _________________________________________________________

Author or Organization: _________________________________________________

Date/Year: ________________


Source 2:

Title/Website: _________________________________________________________

Author or Organization: _________________________________________________

Date/Year: ________________


Source 3:

Title/Website: _________________________________________________________

Author or Organization: _________________________________________________

Date/Year: ________________


Source 4 (optional):

Title/Website: _________________________________________________________

Author or Organization: _________________________________________________

Date/Year: ________________


Source 5 (optional):

Title/Website: _________________________________________________________

Author or Organization: _________________________________________________

Date/Year: ________________

🦖 Part 2: EXPERT Dinosaur Challenge - Jurassic

Goal: Research 7 Jurassic dinosaurs including: 2 different sauropod families, 2 theropods, 1 stegosaur, 1 from Morrison Formation, 1 from Tendaguru Formation

Dinosaur #1: _________________________________

Scientific Name
Name Meaning
Family
Time (Early/Middle/Late Jurassic)
Geographic Location/Formation
Size
One Unique Adaptation

Dinosaur #2: _________________________________

Scientific Name
Name Meaning
Family
Time (Early/Middle/Late Jurassic)
Geographic Location/Formation
Size
One Unique Adaptation

Dinosaur #3: _________________________________

Scientific Name
Name Meaning
Family
Time (Early/Middle/Late Jurassic)
Geographic Location/Formation
Size
One Unique Adaptation

Dinosaur #4: _________________________________

Scientific Name
Name Meaning
Family
Time (Early/Middle/Late Jurassic)
Geographic Location/Formation
Size
One Unique Adaptation

Dinosaur #5: _________________________________

Scientific Name
Name Meaning
Family
Time (Early/Middle/Late Jurassic)
Geographic Location/Formation
Size
One Unique Adaptation

Dinosaur #6: _________________________________

Scientific Name
Name Meaning
Family
Time (Early/Middle/Late Jurassic)
Geographic Location/Formation
Size
One Unique Adaptation

Dinosaur #7: _________________________________

Scientific Name
Name Meaning
Family
Time (Early/Middle/Late Jurassic)
Geographic Location/Formation
Size
One Unique Adaptation

🎓 Part 3: Bonus Expert Questions - Jurassic

How did sauropods' long necks help them survive?
What's the difference between Allosaurus and later tyrannosaurs?
Why were stegosaurs' plates special? (Hint: thermoregulation!)
How did Archaeopteryx show the link between dinosaurs and birds?

🟢 MISSION 3: THE CRETACEOUS PERIOD (145-66 MYA)

🌟 KEY QUESTION 1: WHAT TRIGGERED THE END OF THE CRETACEOUS?

The Chicxulub Asteroid Impact

Research: How big? How fast? Where did it hit? What happened immediately?

How did the asteroid impact CHANGE Earth's climate?

Research: Dust/ash in atmosphere? Darkness? Temperature changes? How long did climate changes last?

Why did climate changes kill dinosaurs but not everything?

Research: What survived? Why? What advantages did survivors have that large dinosaurs didn't?

🌟 KEY QUESTION 2: HOW DID CLIMATE IMPACT DINOSAUR EVOLUTION (Before Asteroid)?

What was the Cretaceous climate like BEFORE the asteroid?

Research: Warmest period? Ice at poles? Sea levels? Different climate zones?

How did very warm climate lead to MAXIMUM dinosaur diversity?

Research: Why did MORE types evolve? Could dinosaurs live everywhere? Did isolated regions create different species?

How did FLOWERING PLANTS change dinosaur evolution?

Research: When did flowers appear? How were they different? New herbivore adaptations? More food = more dinosaurs?

📍 Part 1: Additional Earth & Climate Research

1. What did Earth look like?

Research: Continents drifting to modern positions? Atlantic Ocean? Western Interior Seaway?

2. What was the climate like?

Research: Warmest period? Poles icy or green? Sea levels?

3. What NEW things appeared in the Cretaceous?

Research: Flowering plants? When? How did they change everything? New insects?

4. What was dinosaur diversity like?

Research: More types evolved? New groups appeared?

5. THE BIG QUESTION: How did the Cretaceous end?

Research: Asteroid details, impact location, immediate effects, why dinosaurs died

6. What survived the extinction?

Research: Which animals made it? Why did they survive but not dinosaurs?

📚 CRETACEOUS RESEARCH SOURCES

Record your sources AS YOU RESEARCH! Write down each book or website you use:

Source 1:

Title/Website: _________________________________________________________

Author or Organization: _________________________________________________

Date/Year: ________________


Source 2:

Title/Website: _________________________________________________________

Author or Organization: _________________________________________________

Date/Year: ________________


Source 3:

Title/Website: _________________________________________________________

Author or Organization: _________________________________________________

Date/Year: ________________


Source 4 (optional):

Title/Website: _________________________________________________________

Author or Organization: _________________________________________________

Date/Year: ________________


Source 5 (optional):

Title/Website: _________________________________________________________

Author or Organization: _________________________________________________

Date/Year: ________________

🦖 Part 2: EXPERT Dinosaur Challenge - Cretaceous

Goal: Research 9 Cretaceous dinosaurs including: 2 tyrannosaurids, 2 ceratopsians, 2 hadrosaurs, 1 dromaeosaur, 1 abelisaurid, 1 from Antarctica/Australia

Dinosaur #1: _________________________________

Scientific Name & Meaning
Family/Clade
Early or Late Cretaceous?
Geographic Location & Formation
Size, Diet, Key Adaptations
One Fascinating Feature

Dinosaur #2: _________________________________

Scientific Name & Meaning
Family/Clade
Early or Late Cretaceous?
Geographic Location & Formation
Size, Diet, Key Adaptations
One Fascinating Feature

Dinosaur #3: _________________________________

Scientific Name & Meaning
Family/Clade
Early or Late Cretaceous?
Geographic Location & Formation
Size, Diet, Key Adaptations
One Fascinating Feature

Dinosaur #4: _________________________________

Scientific Name & Meaning
Family/Clade
Early or Late Cretaceous?
Geographic Location & Formation
Size, Diet, Key Adaptations
One Fascinating Feature

Dinosaur #5: _________________________________

Scientific Name & Meaning
Family/Clade
Early or Late Cretaceous?
Geographic Location & Formation
Size, Diet, Key Adaptations
One Fascinating Feature

Dinosaur #6: _________________________________

Scientific Name & Meaning
Family/Clade
Early or Late Cretaceous?
Geographic Location & Formation
Size, Diet, Key Adaptations
One Fascinating Feature

Dinosaur #7: _________________________________

Scientific Name & Meaning
Family/Clade
Early or Late Cretaceous?
Geographic Location & Formation
Size, Diet, Key Adaptations
One Fascinating Feature

Dinosaur #8: _________________________________

Scientific Name & Meaning
Family/Clade
Early or Late Cretaceous?
Geographic Location & Formation
Size, Diet, Key Adaptations
One Fascinating Feature

Dinosaur #9: _________________________________

Scientific Name & Meaning
Family/Clade
Early or Late Cretaceous?
Geographic Location & Formation
Size, Diet, Key Adaptations
One Fascinating Feature

🎓 Part 3: Bonus Expert Questions - Cretaceous

Which dinosaurs had feathers? What were they for?
How did ceratopsian frills and horns evolve over time?
What's the difference between early tyrannosaurs and T. rex?
Why were hadrosaurs so successful?
How do we know some dinosaurs lived in herds?
What evidence shows some dinosaurs were caring parents?

🎉 MISSION COMPLETE! 🎉

Captain Lucasaurus, you've completed your research!

Now use this information to create your posters and write your story!