Zoom with Dinosaurs! – paulspreshistoricpark.com

I have been volunteering with www.Readingtokids.org approaching 2 years now. For the last year “ReadingtoKids.org has been providing storytelling to Eight Elementary Schools in the Downtown Los Angeles Area via Zoom. Dominic a 6-foot-tall T-Rex has been joining me for the Zoom Meetings and Xiuhcoatl a Dragon beginning in April. Sometimes the books are Dinosaur or Dragon related as was May’s selection that included “How to Catch a Dragon” by Adam Wallace. This makes them especially fun for the Prehistoric Pals and me too!

On May 20^th the Three of us had the opportunity to make a Dinosaur & Dragon presentation to Dyer Street Elementary School in Sylmar, CA. Miss Gordon’s Kindergarten Class was a Great Deal of Fun! We talked about fossils and some of their favorite Dinosaurs. I shared a Spinosaurus & Raptor Tooth via Zoom. Steve Brusatte’s book “Dinosaurs” provided nice visuals of Dinosaur favorites with diagram comparisons to a human. Even a T-Rex tooth 12 inches long is shown actual size in this Wonderful Book.

Next Miss Gordon’s Class received a sneak peek at the new book I’m working on about Xiuhcoatl. Plus, a couple of mini videos of Xiuhcoatl exhaling fire and creating lightning amazed the kids. Then it was time for “How to Draw Dragons & Dinosaurs”. Use a pencil and have an eraser on hand to remove unwanted lines. You can use crayons, colored pencils or markers after you finish your drawing. I used a whiteboard and markers for my demonstration. We started with making an outline around your hands to make a Dragon. Adding some curved lines to the fingers can make Dragon wings. Add the head to the top of the outline of your where thumbs meet. Then draw the Eyes, Nose & Tongue. Next the Tail and Feet. Finally, I use the eraser to remove the lines where the thumbs came together and the finger outlines on one side to provide a comparison. You decide what you like best – leaving the finger outlines or not. I added horns to the head and scales to the back of the head, neck and tail. Just draw a “U” upside-down or right-side up to make the scales. I added arms with claws and a few other curved lines here and there and now I have a Dragon. What do you think?

I demonstrated a different approach for drawing Dinosaurs using Ovals & Circular Shapes to start. For this article I’ll make three Dinosaurs at the same time. The Green marker will be for a Brontosaurus, Dark Blue for a T-Rex and Light Blue for a Triceratops. These Dinosaurs have different size heads in proportion to their bodies. Next the circular shapes for the bodies. Since I’m making three at once they will be overlapping. Use curved lines to connect the head to their bodies and add tails. Add the legs and feet. Details to the heads – eyes, nose & mouth. Don’t forget the T-Rexes arms! Remove the extra lines from the original circles and you’re all set. I need to practice more to make a better Triceratops head. Marc the Triceratops agrees. Remember the more you practice the easier it will get.

For more examples see my post May 4, 2018 “How to Draw Dinosaurs and other Prehistoric Beasts”. https://www.paulsprehistoricpark.com/?p=2154

Here are three books for Drawing Dinosaurs that you might find at your Library that I like. Ask your Librarian about others.

Dinosaurs! A Drawing Book by Michael Emberley (1980)

1-2-3 Draw Dinosaurs and other Prehistoric Animals A step by step guide by Freddie Levin (2001)

Draw 50 Dinosaurs and other Prehistoric Animals by Lee J. Ames (1977)

Stay Tuned for More Color Splashes for Xiuhcoatl

My First Book “Is a Metal Dinosaur the Right Pet for You?” is Available as an eBook on Kindle through Amazon.com

Only $3.99!

Included are two photos of Prehistoric Pals converted to black & white line drawings for You to express Your Color Imagination! Search online for print options on Your device. Print Screen, Cropping & Printing are available on many smart phones. Your smart phone may even allow You to email Your Print Screen to Yourself allowing even more options before printing. Kindle has an app for smart phones!

I would love to see Your Color Visions for Dominic & Raphael! Use crayons, pencils, pens, or watercolors! Attach feathers, glitter whatever brings them to life for You. Send a picture of Your Colorized Imaginations to: paul@paulsprehistoricpark.com It could be in a future post!

I will keep You posted with information on my Next eBook “The Shy Triceratops”. I hope to have Paperback versions available later in 2021.

Museums continue reopening with Limits on Guests, Social Distancing & Mask requirements to keep Visitors Safe while They Enjoy Their Learning Experience. Consider a Membership with the Museum. In addition to Supporting Their Valuable Work there are Benefits to You. Special Preview Events for Members Only as well as Virtual Access Exclusive for Members. For more information and access to general public eLearning check out the links below.

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County www.nhm.org under Research & Collections / Digitized Collections will allow you to browse their Collections. Check out the latest Activities on their site.

The American Natural History Museum www.amnh.org You will find eLearning for Families, Students & Educators. Explore the Museum Virtually. Check Out SciCafe: Video Talks and Meet the Icons: Stories behind the Exhibits! There are Video Series covering Behind the Scenes at the Museum with Space & Dinosaur Explainers.

Chicago’s Field Museum www.fieldmuseum.org You can talk to “Maximo the Titanosaur” online, Yes Really! Visit Sue the largest T-Rex discovered! Check Out “Brain Scoop” with host Emily Graslie and the Learning Resources – many are also in Spanish.