Norbesaur Challenge

Description

We take a trip back in time around 100 million years ago to study the Norbesaur - Norbert’s fictitious ancestor. Norbesaur was a theropod that was capable of running and walking. How do scientists know that dinosaurs ran when they weren’t there to study them? They learn by studying dinosaur tracks left as fossils. Your students will make measurements on the fictitious Norbasaur and his cousins and show that there is a relation between his stride length and how fast he is moving. Armed with data they plot, your students will be able to determine how fast one of Norbesaur’s other fictitious cousins was moving by analyzing its tracks. To extend the activity, students should take data as they walk and run and compare their results to data on the Norbesaur and other animals.

Instructional Objectives

The student will

• study biomechanics with an engaging and fun Squeak activity.
• measure speed and distance.
• use ratios to normalize their data.
• plot their data using a scatterplot and use the data to analyze a new situation.
• work together cooperatively and analyze and present their results.

Go to Squeak Norbesaur Challenge Web Activity

Challenge 4: In challenge 4 your students need to make a SaberZot. There are many levels to this challenge ranging from just assembling a SaberZot to making him move so that his data fall on the universal curve. We would like to see examples of your student's solutions to Challenge 4 so we can post them for others to see. Click below to submit your Squeak projects.