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Dinosaurs Sell!

Join the search for the world's most popular dinosaur!

Introduction
Recent events, including the unveiling of Sue, the largest and most complete Tyrannosaurus rex ever discovered (see http://www.fmnh.org/sue/default.htm), and the premier of Disney's Dinosaur, one of the most expensive movies ever made (see http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/dinosaur/dinomain.html), have created a worldwide dinosaur frenzy.

Everyone is eager to cash in on the action. Movie studios, TV production companies, book publishers, ad agencies, and toy and game manufacturers are all scrambling to create the ultimate dinosaur blockbuster. As a noted dinosaurian, you have been tapped to create the next best-selling dinosaur product.

Procedure
Use the DINOSAUR SITES (see separate handout) your teacher has provided to complete the following tasks:

• Choose the type of dinosaur you think will capture the attention of people around the world.
• Learn all you can about the dinosaur you've chosen. Find out what it looked and sounded like, where and when it lived, what it ate, and who its friends and enemies were.
• Write down three fascinating facts about your chosen dinosaur.
• Download an image of your dinosaur from one of the last three DINOSAUR SITES listed, or draw a picture of your dinosaur.
• Decide how your dinosaur can best be used to capture public interest. Is it cute enough to sell a product in a commercial, brave enough to be the hero in an action comic book, adventurous enough to star in a movie or TV show, interesting enough to be featured in a book, or enough fun to be part of a new toy or game?
• Use the information and art you've collected to create a presentation that will sell your dinosaur to a movie studio, a TV production company, a book publisher, an ad agency, or a toy and game manufacturer looking for a new dinosaur product.

© 2000 by Education World®. Permission is granted to teachers to reproduce this skill page for classroom use.