“Ease of understanding - the students really understand the content and can apply it correctly!”

“I like how the lesson leads the students through the process of thinking and figuring out how the dinosaurs are related to lizards and also has them talk and write about their findings.”

“We liked to learn that dinosaurs laid eggs. We liked learning that dinosaurs are like lizards. We liked being able to check our answers. As a teacher I liked being able to use the interactive powerpoint and write right on my screen. Saves me paper!”

“Kids are so excited to learn about dinosaurs! A great way to incorporate them and tie to standards!”

“My students were very engaged with the investigation. They really liked analyzing the photos of animal/dinosaur skulls and their teeth.”

“The class really enjoyed learning about how scientist came to the conclusion that dinosaurs were related to reptiles. This is a great activity! There is never a time that the students were not engaged!”

“My students were so engaged! It matched our standard perfectly and was easy to implement. I even learned a few things myself!”

“Engaging videos! Quick and easy planning! Class had a great discussion. Love the math connection.”

“This was a great lesson for discussion about evidence. Students wanted to know more about dinosaurs that may have had feathers. Would have liked a solid definition for fossil. It would be nice to have a game where a skull is shown and students have to figure out if it was a lizard or not. This guess/check format (like the Frogs say Ribbit lesson) was very successful in my class.”

“The exploration video was extremely engaging for the students and led to a long and in-depth discussion. The students have SO many questions about dinosaurs!”

“I just LOVE the evidence that dinosaurs were reptiles. This fit perfectly with an activity I was letting my students do: make imprint fossils in air dry clay to show how trace/imprint fossils are made. The perfect spot for me to stop and do the activity is right after this lesson shows the trace fossil of the dinosaur scales that help provide evidence that dinosaurs were indeed reptiles. Thank you for always delivering perfect lessons. ”

“I love the pacing. I have a deaf student in my class and a full-time interpreter. These lessons are the perfect pace and pause enough to allow my students to discuss or fill out the worksheets. Deaf students can not take notes and watch their interpreter simultaneously so the pause breaks work great.”

“My students loved learning about how the teeth determined what they ate and how scientists figured out that they were like lizards. I really like the nest of fossilized dinosaur eggs (which I thought was poop!) and I always end up learning something new, too!”

“The best part about this curriculum is the narrator. His voice is nice to listen to and he has many background stories to connect to the learning objective. As a teacher this would be something I purchase for my classroom. It doesn't require a lot of materials and is engaging for the students. Currently we are using FOSS and while the interactive science experiments are great, it takes too much time to put together. Being a third grade teacher, our main focus is reading and math and science and social studies typically get moved to the the side. However, with Mystery Science I am finally able to include an engaging lesson that centers very closely to the Oklahoma Academic Standards. Thank you. ”

“Students loved it! This mystery had students thinking like scientists. Students were on the edge of their seat ready with answers when a discussion question came up on the screen. They were all engaged and eager to know more about how scientist make observations and formulate answers based on evidence. ”

“My students are absolutely in love with these lessons. Its one of the only times when they are truly engaged and learning what they are supposed to and more : )”

“The students were very engaged and we had high-quality discussions thanks to the "guided" questions. I haven't used Mystery Science in my classroom at all this year, having just learned about it. This was really a "test run." Given what I experienced in my classroom today, I will definitely be using it next year, beginning the first week!”

“WE have been studying adaptations in modern animals and how they help animals survive. It was wonderful to see connections with skulls and teeth (which we have been studying) and how those experiences helped them to comprehend this lesson and confirm their predictions. As usual, my kids were intrigued and engaged. We watched a "SciShow Kids" episode on Mary Anning after completing this Mystery (we had a spare 5 minutes) - they were so able to relate to the topic. Thank you for your awesome attention to detail and being in tune with 3rd graders developmentally.”

“Whenever I turn on Mystery Science my students celebrate with a clenched fist and an audible "YES!" They are so engaged during every lesson and really focus for meaningful instruction. I love the connection this lesson makes between modern animals and dinosaurs. It clearly shows students how scientists take what we know and use that to built scientific theory about the past. I especially love that students become the scientists themselves in applying their knowledge. Mystery Science is SO EASY for teachers and SO FUN for kids.”

“The students were so interested in this lesson. They really liked trying to figure out what the animals ate and what animal it was based on it's skull and teeth. They were so interested in this, that I extended the lesson with some optional extras and some ideas of my own in class! Thanks for the great lessons!”

“My kids loved this. We went on a field trip where they saw fossils and noticed the heads and the teeth. They had conversations about what they learned in this lesson! Thank you!”

“My children loved this one, too! They were excited to learn how scientists know that dinosaurs really are reptiles. We did the worksheets together also and they figured they were real paleontologists!”

“Everything was clear for students. They did quite well on the assessment and were able to make generalizations to other animals based on shape of teeth. ”

“What wasn't great? These lessons are fun and kids love doing science this way. I love the easy prep.!”

“Having the kids look at the teeth and evaluate what the dinosaur ate was great!”

“We are loving this program! I love that it's interactive and we are given pauses to have discussions. The worksheets are fun and something my kids are enjoying, not dreading. Can't wait to do more!”

“I love how easy it is to do the lesson. The videos keep my daughter entertained the entire time. She also loves doing the discussion questions between the videos. ”

“Great understanding of how teeth reflect diet”

“The kids were able to make great connections comparing and contrasting dinosaur characteristics with modern animals they are familiar with. I used this lesson in a small homeschool summer camp setting, with kids of varying ages, and they all enjoyed it, and had different insights.”

“Again, the kids were totally engaged and enjoyed the lesson!”

“I the video segments broken up with discussion questions. ”

“My 2nd graders loved this introduction to dinosaurs! The prediction and discovery activity was right on!”

“Through the exploration videos they knew lots of about the dinosaurs which kids are always curious about it!”

“We were so impressed with how skulls are different between animals. Kids loved it.”

“The kids love learning about dinosaurs, but this lesson is a welcome twist on a well-worn subject. It teaches about adaptations in a clever and high-kid- interest way. It had an easy and straight forward set up for teacher prep. as well.”

“Terrific lesson. The kids were totally engaged and enjoyed applying and extending their knowledge of reptiles and mammals. Thank you so much!”

“Same as the first mystery, the students love learning about animals skulls and how they now can identify an animal off of its teeth and the holes in their heads.”

“Loved it! It was a great lesson that helped my students learn more about how scientists look at the bones and teeth to determine what dinosaurs look like and eat.”

“The students cheered when I put up the website. They really enjoy watching the videos.”

“Seeing dinosaurs with different coverings. Thinking about the skulls. They (we) loved everything (as usual!!!) These are the best lessons ever.”

“Anecdotal stories and presenting the information to make the kids curious BEFORE presenting them with facts or research. Your timing was just perfect. Just as my kids were asking, "Yeah, but what if --" you would present the same question and allow time for discussion. I love that I didn't even have to pause the video for discussions. This are very intuitively written presentations. My 5 and 7 year old beg to do Science every day, now. :) ”

“Very engaging! My students loved activity and were really proud of themselves for figuring out what animals ate. ”

“The kids loved the pictures included. As always, the whole lesson was a hit. I fully appreciate this site and all the lessons. THANK YOU!!! ”

“The students loved being investigators. I love how you encourage students to participate. My students ask my daily, "When are we doing Mystery Science?" The titles of the lesson makes them giggle. ”

“I loved that it is so engaging. All of my kids from 12 to 5 love it”

“Students were able to write expository paragraphs about why scientists believe dinosaurs looked like reptiles. They loved the extensions, especially "Fossilized Fashion"”

“The kids loved this activity. I feel like I learned something, too! I didn't know that reptiles had extra holes in their skulls. Awesome lesson!”

“Kids loved to be the scientist and try to identify what the different animals ate by looking at their skulls!”

“My students were very engaged in the lesson and they were intrigued by the photos of the various skeletons and determining what the teeth show about what the animals ate”

“I absolutely loved this lesson. It generated a lot of conversation. It was clear, concise, and highly interesting. I love how much can be taught in such a short period of time. Thank you!”

“Yet another wonderful lesson! The animation and images are perfect. He speaks clearly and articulates information with expression. Bravo!”

“This website is amazing! I couldn't teach science half as well as this website helps me teach it!”

“We loved it! I appreciate the answers being there for the students to see.”

“The kids loved the clips from the movies. I had them stand up or sit on the floor to vote whether they felt the animal ate plants or meat. It was good to have them move. They liked feeling successful.”

“the class LOVED learning about prehistoric animals and it really sank in about carnivores, herbivores, and omnivores. These lessons are incredible and are so exciting! I learn so much as a teacher and it's making me love to teach science and look forward to it instead of dreading it! ”