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Why Dinosaur Ideas Change

Science · Dinosaurs & Paleontology · ages 9-11

Name ______________________ Date ____________

Once scientists learn something about dinosaurs, that idea can never change again.
Circle one: True False
Scientists used to think most dinosaurs did not have feathers. What changed their minds?
- New fossils with feather traces were found
- A scientist decided feathers looked better
- Dinosaurs are extinct so nobody can know
Two paleontologists look at the same fossil bone. Can they come up with different explanations?
- No, a fossil only ever has one possible reading
- Yes, they can interpret it differently
- No, only one scientist is ever allowed to study a fossil
Two explanations exist for why dinosaurs went extinct. How should a scientist decide which is stronger?
- Pick the explanation with the most evidence from many sources
- Pick the explanation that was written down first
- Pick the explanation that sounds the most exciting
Which of these is an example of a dinosaur idea that changed because of new evidence?
- Dinosaurs turned out to be much smaller than a cat
- Fossils turned out to be painted rocks
- Some dinosaurs turned out to have feathers, not just scales
Mia says a scientist who changes their mind about a dinosaur fact must have made a mistake the first time. Is she right?
- Yes, a real scientist never changes their mind
- Not necessarily, new evidence can lead to a better explanation
- Yes, changing an idea means the fossils were fake
Scientist A says a set of bones shows one dinosaur species. Scientist B says the bones show two species, using measurements from many other fossils too. Whose explanation is more likely the stronger one?
- Scientist B's, since it draws on evidence from many fossils
- Neither, since fossils cannot be used as evidence
- Scientist A's, since they spoke up first
A 1980 book says all dinosaurs were slow and dragged their tails. A newer book says many dinosaurs were active and held their tails up. What best explains the difference?
- The 1980 book's author never looked at a real fossil
- Dinosaurs actually changed how they moved sometime after 1980
- New fossils and better methods gave a clearer picture

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Why Dinosaur Ideas Change W1-mt_0T0Zf0YG6k-s1

False · Scientific ideas can update when fossils or tools reveal something an earlier idea missed.
New fossils with feather traces were found · Fossils with feather traces, found in China, gave scientists direct evidence that dinosaurs had feathers.
Yes, they can interpret it differently · The same bones can be measured or read differently, so two careful scientists can reach different explanations.
Pick the explanation with the most evidence from many sources · An explanation backed by more fossils and more studies is more likely to be correct.
Some dinosaurs turned out to have feathers, not just scales · The feather discovery is a clear case: new fossils replaced an older, scale-only picture.
Not necessarily, new evidence can lead to a better explanation · Changing an idea because of new evidence is exactly what good scientists are supposed to do.
Scientist B's, since it draws on evidence from many fossils · Scientist B's conclusion rests on more fossils and comparisons, which makes it the stronger explanation.
New fossils and better methods gave a clearer picture · Between 1980 and today, new fossils and better ways of studying bones gave scientists a clearer, more active picture of dinosaurs.