Palaeontology — Prehistoric Animals · Evidence-aware fact-card activity

Dinosaur Flashcards

Compare prehistoric animals using corrected names, diets and representative measurements while distinguishing dinosaurs from other reptile groups.

Landscape activity · use fullscreen on a phone for larger controls

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📝 Description

Dinosaur Flashcards is an educational visual activity featuring well-known dinosaurs. Students explore names, illustrations, and basic facts, supporting science curiosity, vocabulary, and prehistoric-life awareness. It can be used for classroom discussion, early research, or fun revision.

📋 Instructions

View each dinosaur card, read the details, and use the flashcards for recognition, discussion, or quick revision.

🎓 Learning Guide: Dinosaur Flashcards

Learning focus: Compare prehistoric animals using corrected names, diets and representative measurements while distinguishing dinosaurs from other reptile groups.

Palaeontology — Prehistoric Animals Evidence-aware fact-card activity

Learning objectives

Extract name, diet and measurement information from a fact card
Compare herbivores and carnivores using stated diet evidence
Distinguish dinosaurs from pterosaurs and marine reptiles

Concepts and principles

Parasaurolophus was a plant-eating dinosaur, while Allosaurus was a carnivorous dinosaur that ate other animals.
Ichthyosaurs were marine reptiles and pterosaurs were flying reptiles; neither group was a dinosaur, even though all are prehistoric reptiles.
Body-size estimates represent scientific reconstructions and can be revised when evidence or methods improve.

Examples and worked solutions

The card identifies Shonisaurus popularis as an ichthyosaur about 15 m long with an estimated mass of 29.7 tonnes. Convert the mass to kilograms.: Worked solution: 29.7 × 1,000 = 29,700 kg.

Try this activity

Choose two cards and compare their animal groups before comparing size
Record each card’s diet and classify it as plant-eating or animal-eating
Identify whether a displayed measurement is length, height or mass before comparing numbers

Expected observations and explanations

Shared prehistoric age does not place every animal in the dinosaur group, and measurements with different units cannot be compared directly.

Assessment questions and answers

Which of Parasaurolophus and Allosaurus was the plant-eater?: Answer: Parasaurolophus.
Was Shonisaurus a dinosaur?: Answer: No. It was an ichthyosaur, a marine reptile.