Jaws and Claws UFLI Foundations Lesson 125

Roar! Rex the dinosaur burst out of the jungle with a big announcement. 'I am the greatest dinosaur who ever lived,' said Rex. Behind Rex, many other dinosaurs poked their heads through the ferns. They blinked. They stared. They did not look impressed.

'Let me show you something,' said Rex. 'We came in all sizes. Tiny ones. Middle ones. Big ones. And then...' Rex looked up. And up. And up at the giant long-necked dinosaurs towering over everything. A tiny human stood at the end of the line. Rex was quiet for a moment. 'Well,' Rex said softly. 'Size is not everything.'

Five small hunters came racing across the sand, moving together like one animal with ten legs. 'Show-offs,' muttered Rex. 'Hunting in packs. What an embarrassment. A real dinosaur hunts alone.' Not one of the small hunters even glanced at Rex. They had things to catch and places to be. Rex watched them go with a grumble.

Rex opened its mouth wide. Very wide. So wide. 'See these teeth?' Rex said. 'Rows and rows of them. Sharp as blades. Built for ripping. Built for tearing. Built for ruining your afternoon.' Rex grinned with excitement and prowled through the hot dust. 'Bone experts can tell what a dinosaur ate just by looking at its teeth. One look at mine, and you know what's for dinner.'

Two long-necked dinosaurs strolled across the plain, still and quiet in the afternoon sun. 'Tell us, Rex,' said one. 'What skin shade are we?' Rex's face showed pure bewilderment. Rex opened its mouth. Closed it. Opened it again. 'Nobody knows,' Rex said. 'Skin rots before it can become a fossil. No one has ever found the true skin shade of any dinosaur.' Rex paused. 'But I bet I was red. Red, for sure.'

A scaly dinosaur stood nearby, looking startled. Rex pointed at it. 'See? Classic dinosaur. Tough. Scaly. Grand.' But nobody told Rex the truth. Many dinosaurs had feathers. Even Rex. Over time, some of those feathered dinosaurs got smaller and learned to fly. They became birds. Rex stood in pure astonishment. 'Wait,' Rex said slowly. 'Are you telling me I am kin to a chicken?'

A large dinosaur looked down at two tiny babies nestled in the plants. The babies peered up with wide eyes and small smiles. Rex watched from far away and said nothing for a long moment. 'Fine,' Rex whispered. 'That's sweet. Even I can admit that's sweet.' Rex stood there in quiet contentment.

A small dinosaur came striding through the ferns on its back legs, tail stretched out for balance, little arms reaching forward. 'Not bad,' said Rex. 'Bone experts study bones and old footprints to track movement and find out how we walked. Every bone is a clue. Every footprint tells a story.' Rex watched the small dinosaur trot past. Rex smiled. 'My footprints are much grander.'

A big dinosaur reared up on its back legs and held its claws high. Those large claws were built for grabbing. 'It can walk on four legs or rear up and snatch things with those claws,' said Rex. 'Food from tall branches. A swipe at a foe. What grand equipment!' Then Rex looked down at its own small arms. Rex looked at the big, useful claws. Rex changed the subject.

'All right. Let's talk about the arms.' Rex stood tall, gripping a small wriggling animal tight in its claws. 'Everyone laughs at these arms. Tiny, they say. Silly, they say. No one pays these arms a compliment. But bone experts have learned something. These arms are strong. Strong enough to grip prey. Strong enough to push me up off the ground. Small does not mean useless.' Rex flexed. 'Who's laughing now?'

Three long-necked dinosaurs stood on the rocks, smiling like they knew a secret. 'What?' said Rex. They just smiled. 'What?' 'Every new fossil changes the story,' said the biggest one. 'Old ideas get flipped. Bone experts are still learning about us. Not even you know everything yet.' Rex opened its mouth to start an argument. Then Rex closed it. That was a good point.

Rex stood among the old trees, bright sunlight on its back. Rex took a deep breath. Rex had one last announcement. 'I do not know everything,' Rex said. 'I thought I did. But there are fossils still locked in stone, secrets still hidden, and so much still to learn.' Rex looked right at you. 'So keep hunting. Keep asking. Keep digging. And never, ever stop roaring.' ROAR!