The Mesozoic Era
Place the three periods of the Mesozoic Era — Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous — in order and understand that different dinosaurs lived in different periods, not all at the same time
Typical age: 7–9 years
“Does your child know that T. rex and Stegosaurus didn't actually live at the same time — and can they name the three dinosaur time periods in order?”
0 / 3 mastered
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Needs first
- Famous Dinosaur Species
Knowing species names helps when assigning them to time periods
- Dinosaurs Were RealREQUIRED
Must understand dinosaurs existed long ago before placing them in geological periods
- Dinosaur Sizes
Placing the Mesozoic periods in order and understanding that different dinosaurs lived in different periods is contextualised by the prior knowledge that dinosaurs varied enormously in size — size variation across time periods supports the concept of evolutionary change
Unlocks next
- Rock Layers & Relative Dating
Understanding geological periods helps contextualise the strata timeline
- Dinosaurs Around the World
Understanding that different dinosaurs lived on different continents is enriched by the prior knowledge that different dinosaurs lived in different time periods — both are dimensions of dinosaur geographic/temporal distribution
- The K-Pg Extinction EventREQUIRED
Must know the Cretaceous period before understanding the Cretaceous-Palaeogene boundary