Onsite - Learn & Explore: Paleo 360° Adventures!

Friday, April 11, 2025. 

From Jurassic Park to Dinosaur Train to The Flintstones to Dino Dana (some of which was filmed right here at ROM!), dinosaurs feature widely in today’s popular culture.

Dinosaurs have captured the imagination of people across time and around the globe.

Join us at ROM for an in-depth, multidisciplinary approach to investigate dinosaurs using a wide cultural and scientific lens Students will:

• Discover what happens when a language has no word for "dinosaur."
• Explore how dinosaur palaeobiology databases use technology to help scientists.
• Investigate how palaeontologists determine the age of dinosaur fossils.
• Discuss the impact when rare dinosaur fossils are sold to private collectors, lost to science, and the consequences for our understanding of history.

This program encourages students to think critically, ask big questions, and explore the connections between science, culture, and history—offering a deeper understanding of some of the most fascinating creatures to ever walk the Earth.

Learning goals

• Explore how palaeontologists use scientific methods to analyze and date dinosaur fossils, including the use of palaeobiology databases and fossil dating techniques.
• Gain an understanding of how dinosaurs are portrayed in different cultures and media, and how this shapes our collective imagination and knowledge.
• Evaluate the implications of private fossil collections, considering the ethical and scientific consequences of removing fossils from public access and research.
• Learn how technology, such as palaeobiology databases, can be used to uncover information about dinosaur species, fossil locations, and their historical context.
• Discuss the importance of preserving fossils for scientific research and the cultural significance of keeping them in public institutions versus private collections.

Curriculum links

• Grades 3 to 5 Arts, such as “identify and describe a variety of visual art forms they see in...the community, and in visual arts experiences”
• Grades 3 to 5 Language, such as “Cross-Curricular and Integrated Learning” and “select and use a variety of listening strategies before, during, and after listening to comprehend information and messages communicated orally”
• Grades 3 to 5 Mathematics, such as “Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Skills and the Mathematical Processes...make connections between math and everyday contexts to help them make informed judgements and decisions” 
• Grades 3 to 5 Science and Technology, such as “practical applications of science and technology" and “analyse the impact of the depletion or extinction of a species on its habitat and community” and “describe practical applications of science and technology”
• Grades 3 to 5 Social Studies, such as “analyse...maps, including thematic maps, as part of their investigations into balancing human needs/wants and activities with environmental stewardship in Canada”

Program content and availability subject to change.

Booking Information

• Advance booking is required.
• President's Choice School Entrance hours - Tuesdays to Fridays – 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Museum Hours – 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Bookings are for Ontario-based groups only.  Groups may include schools, educational groups, daycares, and camps with children/youth aged 18 or younger.
• NEW! In keeping with standard practices at major attractions, ROM has implemented metal detectors and mandatory bag checks at all entrances to the Museum. To ensure quick entry, we recommend that visitors bring a minimum of belongings for their visit. More information on prohibited items can be found here.
• Booking includes access to all permanent displays.
• Review the ROM’s Visitor Guide for the latest gallery information and closures.
• All groups of children and youth must be accompanied by their teachers/adult chaperones at all times.