National Geographic JM80215 Dinosaur Dig Kit, Multi

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However it came to be buried, being underground protected it from scavengers. This ensured it is one of the best preserved alvarezsaurids from this period, greatly improving our understanding of their anatomy and ecology.’ M loved finding out more about gemstones with the National Geographic STEM learning kit from Bandai UK Among the many dinosaurs to be discovered in the region are the alvarezsaurids, a group of dinosaurs with many similarities to birds. These include characteristics such as a light skull, small body size and a structure known as a keeled sternum, which allows large arm muscles to attach.

Preserved in a resting pose for more than 70 million years, a new species of dinosaur has finally been brought to light. But in Mongolia at least, they appear to have been relatively common. With the discovery of Jaculinykus, nine genera of alvarezsaurid have now been found in the region. We previously reviewed the smaller gemstone set which contains 3 gemstones, but the Ultimate set contains an impressive 20! I really like this set because it was easier to find the stones, but also you end up with a brilliant collection. The gems include ones we were familiar with, but also some I hadn’t heard of like snowflake obsidian (although as a big fan of Minecraft my daughter had heard of this one and she was rather excited by it). Some of the gemstones have been polished and are all smooth while others are in the natural state and you can see the crystal formations. We have bought gemstones before, but discovering them through the excavation made them far more special. It suggests you can add water to make it easier to dig them out, but we found previously we just made more mess this way. M found it easier to dig the pieces out using the tools and brush them off, but the rougher gems that hadn’t been tumbled like pyrite and the geode she placed in a pot of water to soak before used an old toothbrush to clean them up.

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While these dinosaurs wouldn’t have all been alive at the same time, there may have been three or four different species co-existing at different points in the Late Cretaceous. The volcano set takes several days to complete: first you make the volcano shape from plaster by mixing the powder with water and then pouring into the provided mould. After about 45 minutes you carefully take it out of the mould and let it fully dry for a couple of days (or you can put it in the oven for a couple of hours to dry if you prefer). When taking it out of the mould M noticed that the plaster was warm to the touch so we had a conversation about the exothermic reaction created when water and plaster of Paris are mixed together.

The learning guide is a great introduction to sharks and includes: myth busting about them being man-eaters (apparently only 10 of the more than 500 species have been known to bite a human), the importance of sharks to the ecosystem and the threat to sharks from humans. Finding out what this common ancestor could be, however, is difficult, as the fossils of small dinosaurs like the alvarezsaurids are often badly preserved.

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Alternatively, it’s possible that it was buried while in a burrow. Alvarezsaurids like Jaculinykus had tiny but powerful forelimbs that might possibly have allowed them to excavate underground tunnels, and if this collapsed, it would have preserved its life position.

AD) We are very excited to be ambassadors for the 2021 Bandai National Geographic Stem blogger club which means we will be reviewing lots of the great products from the National Geographic range over the next few months. These sets are suitable for children aged 8 and upwards and they are a great way to get children engaged and learning about different topics in a fun way. Small dinosaurs can have thinner and more fragile bones, which make them more vulnerable to being damaged,’ Paul says. ‘From the fragments that survive, we know that alvarezsaurids certainly lived in other areas of the world, but we may not be seeing the full diversity of the species that lived there.’ The 3 shark teeth in the set are from: sand tiger sharks which are the most common shark to be found in public aquariums so you have probably seen them swimming around, the crow shark and the otodus shark which are both extinct. Named Jaculinykus yaruui, or the ‘speedy clawed dragon’, the small, possibly feathered, dinosaur was well adapted to dashing around what is now Mongolia. With hands dominated by a large thumb, it could have dug into insect colonies in the search for food. Meanwhile, their thumbs develop a big claw and get much larger, while their arms become shorter but stronger. It’s thought they might be anteaters, and they also have flexible skulls which might have helped them to eat larger, struggling insects.’The new species was found in Mongolia’s Gobi Desert, which is one of the richest sources of dinosaur fossils in the world. The first recognised dinosaur eggs were discovered here a century ago, while many famous species such as Oviraptor, Protoceratops and Velociraptor have also been unearthed in the region. This month we received: an Ultimate Gemstone Dig Kit, a Build Your Own Volcano set, a Dino Dig Kit and a Shark Tooth Dig Kit from Bandai’s National Geographic Range to review. Designing environmentally-friendly items is a newer aspect of STEM, but one that is very important for budding scientists. STEM activity kits tend to have more one-time-use parts than other toys, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be eco-friendly. Look for ways to reuse or reinvent activities once you are done for added exploration and play. The Osmo Genius Kit connects to your iPad, so it doesn't rely on waste or other pieces, but if you are looking for something screen-free, we love the 4M Crystal Growing Kit. Kits like this produce something kids can cherish and keep forever, limiting waste. What I love about these STEM kits is they are a hands on way to get children learning. At 8 most children will be old enough to explore the kits on their own with minimal supervision, but we have done all of ours together because I find them interesting too. My eldest daughter and I have been talking about what we can see and M then shares with me the information in the accompanying learning guides so we both discover something new. The Build Your Own Volcano kit requires more adult supervision because of the chemicals involved. Digging the items out creates an aspect of mystery so they don’t know what they will get. It helps to bring conversations to life about what the dinosaurs were like and children can find out more in the included learning guide.

This diversity might be explained by the environments of the past,’ Kohta says. ‘The Cretaceous sediments in the Nemegt Basin suggest there were once a variety of moist and dry habitats.’ All STEM toys are designed to introduce educational concepts to kids in a digestible and fun way. Find an age-appropriate toy in a subject that interests your child and will keep them engaged and entertained for hours. These toys are meant to challenge children and foster problem-solving skills while learning about math and science. For a challenging and educational toy, we love the ThinkFun Gravity Maze. The eruption is created by placing a mix of citric acid and sodium bicarbonate into the top of the volcano then adding water. The instructions also have tips for variations to make bigger eruptions and other household chemicals you can use. Be warned that the eruption powder contains red colouring which will stain some materials. This is telling us about eating interactions between organisms, about recycling processes," says Chin. "When you're holding a piece of fossil poop, that really shows us how dynamic life has been — not only today, but in the past." It’s never too early to introduce kids to STEM, but you should be aware of the recommended ages before investing in a toy or activity. Consider your child’s fine and gross motor skills since many STEM toys require careful manipulation of parts and pieces. You should also consider your child’s attention span and whether their interest is in constructing or using the toy.

Digging dinosaurs

Like all meat-eating dinosaurs, or theropods, the earliest alvarezsaurids had three-fingered hands,’ Paul explains. ‘Over time, however, the outer fingers get smaller, and eventually disappear altogether.’ Though they’re not directly related to birds, the alvarezsaurids continue to fascinate due to their unusual characteristics – most peculiarly of all, their hands. Most 8 (ish) year olds will probably find the best thing about this set is that it contains fossilised dinosaur poo. To be honest it looks pretty much like a stone to me, but apparently it is far more amusing to wave under your sister’s nose than a stone. I personally think it is more exciting to find the piece of a fossilised dinosaur bone. It's impossible to know which one of the 1000 plus dinosaur species it’s from, but that wont stop my children from guessing. Previously, this posture has only been seen in a couple of dinosaurs, including a troodontid known as Mei,’ Paul explains. ‘As it comes later in the dinosaur lineages than other bird-like poses, such as brooding, it’s reasonable to assume that birds and their near relatives inherited their resting position from a common ancestor.’ Jenica Currie, is an editor for The Spruce, specializing in outdoor, home improvement, garden, and gift guide topics since 2020. Currie updated this article with additional products and insights, including products we've tested. Her 10-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter also provided ideas and inspiration for this article.