Meet the Stegosaurus, a dinosaur with some pretty cool features! Its name means “roof lizard” because a long time ago, a scientist thought the plates on its back lay flat like roof shingles. But after more research, scientists discovered that these plates actually stood straight up on its back.
The Stegosaurus had big, pointy plates on its back, and scientists have a few ideas about what they were for. Some think the plates might have been for protection, like how some animals use horns. Others believe the plates helped the Stegosaurus stay cool, similar to how elephants use their big ears. There’s also a chance the plates made the Stegosaurus look taller to scare away predators and impress other Stegosauruses. Wouldn’t it be neat to have back plates to make you look bigger?
Besides the plates, the Stegosaurus had a bunch of spikes on its tail, known as a thagomizer. These spikes could have been used to defend against predators.
Even though we don’t know everything about the Stegosaurus, it’s fun to imagine how these amazing dinosaurs lived millions of years ago!
Plate Design Challenge: Create your own Stegosaurus plates! Use colorful paper, cardboard, or any craft materials you have at home to design and cut out plates. Think about what colors and patterns might help a Stegosaurus stand out or blend in. Once you’ve made your plates, attach them to a toy dinosaur or a paper model. Discuss with a friend or family member why you chose those colors and patterns. Do you think they would help your Stegosaurus stay cool, look bigger, or protect itself?
Thagomizer Defense Game: Pretend you are a Stegosaurus with a thagomizer tail! Use a soft object, like a pillow or a rolled-up pair of socks, as your “tail.” Have a family member or friend pretend to be a predator trying to sneak up on you. Practice swinging your “tail” to keep the predator away. After playing, talk about how animals today use different parts of their bodies to protect themselves. Can you think of other animals that have special features for defense?
Observation Walk: Go on a nature walk with a family member or friend and look for animals or plants with special features. Take a notebook and draw or write about what you see. Do any of these features remind you of the Stegosaurus’s plates or thagomizer? Discuss how these features might help the animals or plants survive in their environment. How do they compare to the Stegosaurus’s features?
