Saturday’s Reading to Kids Theme was “Music & Entertainment. Books – Kindergarten: “Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem” by Amanda Gorman; 1st Grade: “I’m Not Just a Scribble” by Diana Alber; 2nd Grade: “Lizzy and the Cloud” by Terry Fan – a cute story where you can purchase a cloud on a string with care instructions included, of course!; 3rd Grade: “My First Classical Music Book” by Genevieve Helsby; 4th Grade: “The Met Claude Monet: He saw the World in Brilliant Light (What the Artist Saw)” by Amy Guglielmo; 5th Grade: “A Stage Full of Shakespeare Stories: 12 Tales from the World’s Most Famous Playwright” by Angela McAllister. Check Out Your Local Library for these Books. And www.readingtokids.org to learn more.
I read to the 3rd Graders. The Classical Music Book came with a CD to play various composer’s music and assist the kids & readers with recognizing the different types of instruments. Everyone’s favorite part was the Can-Can where step by step illustrations allowed all of us to dance the Can-Can to the Music. Sorry, I don’t have any pictures of us dancing. We were just having too much fun! I’m sure the Prehistoric Pals would have loved to see that action!
This event reminded me of a frequent question, “What Sounds did Dinosaurs Make?” Did Dinosaurs create Music? Their descendants are birds (at least from the non-avian theropods branch). Birds produce tremendous amounts of Music. Did Dinosaurs Sing?
The Jurassic Park & World Movies gave us Terrifying Roars and the Raptors call sounds that will stick in our memories. However, these were created by Sound Technicians using a variety of animal roars, screeches, cries and calls combined. Did You know Gary Rydstrom was the Sound Designer for the Jurassic Park Movies? He used baby elephant squeals, alligator gurgles and tiger snarls for the T-Rex. The breathing was the sound of air escaping a whale’s blow hole. For Dilophosaurus, swans hooting, rattle snakes & hawks brought them to life. The Raptors were owls and the mating sounds of tortoises – really! In Jurassic World Al Nelson expanded on these sounds to give the Raptors more lines and individual personalities. African Cranes, hissing geese, dogs and horses were used to increase the Raptors vocabulary. High pitched sounds paired with the low voice of a walrus or tiger gives the impression of size & weight. The Brachiosaurus is a braying donkey and the Apatosaurus emoting tigers & dogs.
But what sounds did Dinosaurs really make? Well, no one knows for sure. It was believed that most dinosaurs did not have larynxes or syrinxes (vocal organ in birds). This is organ would be difficult to find preserved in fossilization. However in February 2023, an article reported a Larynx discovery in a Pinacosaurus (a member of the Ankylosaur Family). This indicates Dinosaurs may have been able to make sounds much more like birds than previously thought.
Scientists have believed many dinosaurs relied on deep base vibrations that humans couldn’t hear but definitely would feel. Since their closest relatives are crocodiles & birds many may have made throaty gargling noises. Imagine those amplified to reflect the size of these thundering Dinosaurs! Pretty Scary to me. I like to think that the smaller dinosaurs would have chirped and sang similar to birds today. This New Discovery brings us much closer to that ability. The following links provide the results of 2022 & 2023 Studies on Dinosaur Vocalizations.
Note: Elasmosaurus & Mosasaurus are Marine Reptiles, Not Dinosaurs. Quetzalcoatlus is a Pterosaur a Flying Reptile, Not a Dinosaur. They are on a different Branch of the Family Tree.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcBoY_aEVj8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3a9hN-CvqUw
With the discovery of a Larynx in Pinacosaurus grangeri, I look forward to the 2024 Study!
The Prehistoric Pals & I are making some musical instruments from things you probably have lying around your home. Dinosaur Drums & Sauropod Shakers. Keep reading to see how the Prehistoric Pals & I make our Drums & Shakers. See post March 20, 2020 “Dinosaur Drums are Calling” for making Dinosaur Drums. https://www.paulsprehistoricpark.com/?p=4614
For Sauropod & Ceratopsian Shakers the cardboard from toilet paper rolls or wrapping paper cardboard rolls will work. Empty food cans are also an option. We used colored paper and cloth from an old bed sheet to seal & finish the outside of the Shakers. Balloons, Rubber Bands & any kind of paper are a good substitute. Pasta was the inside choice for the Shakers. Beans, beads or rice can be used inside to make different sounds. Use the rolls to measure the paper that will cover them. Extra is better to allow for overlap. I attached a circle of colored paper with glue to the inside of the cloth to make a deeper sound. Scotch Tape to hold the cloth and colored paper to the tubes. Don’t forget to add the pasta, beans, rice, beads, etc. before you seal the second end.
You can decorate the colored paper on the outside of the Shakers however you like. To make them Sauropod & Ceratopsian Shakers, I used an additional sheet of colored paper to draw dinosaurs. A 2B pencil, artist pen, kneaded eraser and sharpies completed the drawings. Colored Pencils, Crayons & Glitter Glue make great alternative choices. After sketching with the pencil. The final drawing is completed with pen. The kneaded eraser removes all the excess pencil marks. The sharpies add some color. Then wrap & glue the drawings over the tubes to finish the Sauropod & Ceratopsian Shakers. The Raptors are having fun with the Shakers outside. Antonio the Pterosaur & Dominic the T-rex provide some indoor music.
Stay Tuned for More Dinosaur Crafts & Fun Facts!
Here are 3 of my favorites Museums. Remember Social Distancing & Masks to keep You & Others Safe while Everyone Enjoys 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” and the Learning Resources – many are also in Spanish.
Check Out Your Libraries eBooks. My local Library has over 900 eBooks on Dinosaurs! Here are four books for Drawing Dinosaurs that you might find at your Library. Ask your Librarian about others.
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)
Draw it Dinosaurs by Patricia Walsh (2006)
I Can Draw Dinosaurs by Terry Longhurst (2003)
Stay Safe & Well.
Please Remember to Wear Masks & Social Distance as Appropriate Not everyone has been Vaccinated. And even vaccinated many Young & Old have compromised immune systems. Protect Yourself, Friends, Family & Everyone You Pass!
Thank You!
I used watercolors to make Dinosaur Designs on my N95 Masks. I couldn’t get a yes or no from 3M regarding any impact this might have to the effectiveness of the mask. Many Museums sell Dinosaur Themed Masks Check them Out!
“Encouraging the Appreciation of Art and Education through the Inspiration of Dinosaurs”
Paul & Prehistoric Pals
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