May’s theme for ReadingtoKids.org Fantasy, Folklore & Fairytales and the books: Kindergarten – “Secret Pizza Party” by Adam Rubin. A Racoon loves Pizza! 1st Grade – “The Rabbit Listened” by Cori Doerrfeld. Sometimes You don’t need Answers, just Someone to Listen. 2nd Grade – “Sleep Like a Tiger” by Mary Logue. Does Everything in the World go to Sleep? 3rd Grade – “Zoey and Sassafras Dragons and Marshmallows” by Asia Citro. If You don’t believe in Magical Creatures, You’ll never see them. 4th Grade – “The Popper Penguin Rescue” by Eliot Schrefer. A Wonderful Story. 5th Grade – “The Lion of Mars” by Jennifer L. Holm. What would it be like for families living on Mars?
Of course, I read to the 3rd Graders! Afterwards, We had some very Fun Dragon Crafts!
How to make them at home will follow. But first, let’s talk about Dragons. Are Dragons Dinosaurs? Short Answer: No. Long Answer: Well, Maybe sort of.
In the 10,000 years human beings became civilized, virtually every culture in the World has referenced supernatural monsters in its folk tales. As far back 310 BC in Egyptian writings and to the Bronze Age in Chinese ritual vessels. In Mesopotamian Artwork dating back to 2334 – 2154 BC these creatures are depicted.
Some take the form of Scaly, Winged, Fire Breathing Reptiles – Dragons! At least that’s how their know in the Western Civilizations. Huge, Dangerous and Fiercely Antisocial typically killed by a Knight in Shining Armor. Dragon comes from the Greek “drakon” meaning “serpent” or “water-snake”. The earliest mythological dragons resemble snakes more than dinosaurs or pterosaurs. In Asian mythology they are referred to as “long” the Chinese name.
My Dragons Watercolor.
Here are 3 Schools of thought regarding the origins of Dragons:
First, Dragons were mixed and matched from the most frightening predators of the time. What you don’t see is usually more terrifying than what you can. Therefore, imaginations can make stories very wild. Especially with early man fighting off Lions, Tigers & Bears to mention a few. These stories not unlike your typical “fish story” could easily have been enhanced at the repeating to each new generation.
Second, Dragons were inspired by the discovery of giant fossils. People have been finding fossils before there was a name for their study. Even today’s paleontologists spend hundreds even thousands of hours removing them from rocks and determining how to reassemble what is often a jumble of species. What if you found the remains of Quetzalcoatlus wings (a giant Pterosaur) and a Tyrannosaur mixed together? That would certainly look like a Dragon to me. So, you can imagine how several hundred years ago some pretty bizarre animals could have been created by what was found after a storm exposed the remains. The Gobi Desert and various parts of China are famous for incredibly preserved Dinosaur fossils.
Third, Dragons were based on recently extinct mammals & reptiles. Early man finding the remains of a saber tooth, giant snake or other mammals & reptiles that together could form the visions of a Dragon. Remember “Harry Potter’s” Basilisk? And don’t forget his family of Dragons from all over the World. There was definitely inspiration for them.
I like the Second School’s thinking.
I shared the book from the American Museum of Natural History “Mythic Creatures And the Impossibly Real Animals Who Inspired Them” with Xiuhcoatl our resident Dragon, Delores del Rio Dilophosaurus, Pterosaur Antonio & Dominic the T-Rex. We checked out online information about Dragons too! The book is Adapted from and exhibition curated by Laurel Kendall & Mark A. Norell with Richard Ellis and the American Museum of Natural History Exhibition Department. Xiuhcoatl was happy to see her friend Quetzalcoatl (feathered serpent) discussed. However, she felt slighted that she wasn’t mentioned. How could they leave out Xiuhcoatl? The Dragon of Fire & Lightening that guides the Sun across the Sky! Somebody’s in Trouble!
So, back to the Question are Dragons Dinosaurs? Due to the conditions that must take place for an animal to become fossilized, it’s estimated that only 1/10 of 1% of the animals that existed became fossils. Is it possible that Dragons escaped the fossil process? or just haven’t been discovered yet? I like to believe Dragons are Undiscovered Dinosaurs, Xiuhcoatl does too!
For our Dragon Crafts I found one online using the cardboard roll left after the toilet paper is gone. Recycling is Fun! The other I made dragon puppets using paper lunch bags. I painted some of the toilet paper tubes with Metallic Red & Metallic Blue and one I wrapped in colored paper as they did online. I like the painted ones the best! Note: the painted tubes were used for making Rocket ships in April. Again Recycle! Fuzzy balls in shades of blue & orange for the eyes & nostrils. Googly Eyes for Your Dragon to better see you! White glue to attach everything. Strips of yellow and red crape paper for the Dragons Flames. Make sure to attach the crape paper strips to the top of the mouth or they won’t fly in the air when you blow through the other end.
For the paper bag Dragon Puppets, I found images of baby Dragons online to inspire my drawings. I made sketches for two different heads – front & back with separate lower jaws. A front & back for the body and wings for flight. The back sides were made by flipping the fronts over & tracing around the edges. Then filling in the details. I made some adjustments to the heads to reflect it was the backside and for the back of the body left off the front feet. I sent templates to readingtokids.org which they printed to allow All 8 participating Elementary in Downtown Los Angeles to have fun with the craft. I named the Red Dragon Aiden after the Red Irish Dragon and the Blue Dragon Saphira. I used a heavier paper that took the watercolors well. Regular White Paper or Colored Construction Paper is also fine. Markers, Colored Pencils or Crayons would do the job too! Then white glue to attach the various pieces to the lunch bags. And There Be Dragons!
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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