Activities for Dinosaurs Before Dark

Dinosaurs Before Dark is one of my ABSOLUTE all-time favorite units to teach in second grade!  The kiddos get so into the dinosaurs, even the girls, and it is always loads of FUN! I created so many fun activities for Dinosaurs Before Dark.

I start off reading the Magic Tree House novel, Dinosaurs Before Dark.  The kiddos are on the edge of their seat listening to me read!  I love getting to the cliff-hanger parts and leave for lunch ?.  I know that is wrong, but it is also fun to keep them guessing!

After we get into the book I begin talking about dinosaurs and introduce Nonfiction.  Now, this can be tricky because they are extinct, but they do grab the concept quickly.  I have an entire nonfiction unit that I use to introduce text features and it makes teaching a breeze! 

Magic Tree House Dinosaurs Before Dark Summary

So who are these cool characters? Jack and Annie discover a treehouse that takes them back in time to the age of dinosaurs! This is is a great “first” chapter book for second grade. I can almost guarantee they will get hooked on the Magic Tree House book series by Mary Pope Osborne. It is A CLASSIC that will have them racing to the media center!!

Dinosaurs Before Dark Novel Study

This unit touches on so many skills needed in second grade.

• Compare and Contrast – Venn

• Character Traits

• Vocabulary – ABC order pages

• Grammar Practice

• Cloze Passage

• Fact or Opinion

• Cause and Effect

• Chapter Questions

• Story Map – Beginning, Middle, End

• Main Idea and Details

• Story Map including Main Idea and Details

• Text to Self *Most Popular*

• Dinosaur Research Project Graphic Organizer

• Dinosaur Research Project Paper

Don’t miss the chance to cover so many skills and standards with this unit! It was designed by a teacher for teachers!!! You will love it!