Plant-eaters and meat-eaters

Science · Dinosaurs & Paleontology · ages 5-7

Name ______________________ Date ____________

Which teeth are best for grinding plants?
- Flat teeth
- Sharp, pointy teeth
- Long claws
Which teeth are best for tearing meat?
- Flat teeth
- Sharp, pointy teeth
- No teeth, just claws
A dinosaur with flat teeth probably ate meat.
Circle one: True False
Tyrannosaurus rex had long, sharp teeth. What did it eat?
- Meat
- Plants
- Leaves
Triceratops has flat teeth. What did it eat?
- Meat
- Fish
- Plants
You want to sort dinosaur pictures into plant-eaters and meat-eaters. What should you look at?
- Their color
- Their teeth
- Their size
Which pair is correct?
- Triceratops eats meat, T. rex eats plants
- Both dinosaurs eat only plants
- Triceratops eats plants, T. rex eats meat
A dinosaur has flat, wide teeth. A friend guesses it hunted other dinosaurs for meat. What is wrong with that guess?
- Nothing, the guess is right
- Flat teeth grind plants, they do not tear meat
- Flat teeth mean it had no food

Answer key

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

Flat teeth · Flat teeth crush and grind tough plants.
Sharp, pointy teeth · Sharp, pointy teeth tear meat easily, like scissors.
False · Flat teeth are for grinding plants, not tearing meat.
Meat · Sharp teeth mean T. rex tore into meat.
Plants · Flat teeth mean Triceratops ground up plants to eat.
Their teeth · Teeth shape is the best clue for what a dinosaur ate.
Triceratops eats plants, T. rex eats meat · Triceratops had flat teeth for plants. T. rex had sharp teeth for meat.
Flat teeth grind plants, they do not tear meat · Flat, wide teeth grind plants. A hunter needs sharp, pointy teeth instead.