Telpochcalli Elementary
Chicago, Illinois
Yolanda Rodriguez Pacheco, 6th -8th Grade

About the Class:

The students at Telpochcalli are very excited to partake in Dinosaur Expedition 2003. Home room 262 is a mix of energetic, enthusiastic, hard working 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. All the kids are looking forward to the next round of Junior Paleontologist because a student from Telpochcalli experienced it last year and they want to do the same. They are also excited about the Giants exhibit at Garfield Park and are eager to visit.

Student Questions:

1. How do you figure out what to call a dinosaur you discover?
   
   SERENO: Well, it’s worse than naming a son or daughter in some ways, because everyone must use this name (even people in foreign countries) and, of course, it must be totally new. So you’d like to choose a name that has meaning and is easy to say. Usually that takes some time and testing. I like to test out a name with my students to get their reaction.
   
2. How do you react when you find the first bone of a larger skeleton?
   
   GRAY: Sometimes when you find that first bone you have no idea what else is right there, and just get caught up in the process of trying to figure out what you are looking at. But then there are those moments when you see something from afar and it just feels good, almost spooky as you walk up to it, and by the time you're there, the animal is before you and it all makes sense. Kind of like waking up into a dream. I'm usually walking around alone while prospecting, but that doesn't mean some hooting and hollering aren't in order!
   
3. About how many dinosaur fossils are discovered each year?
   
   GRAY: With all of the fossil collecting activity within the private and public sectors these days it’s really impossible to know. Dinosaurs actually account for a small amount of all of the fossils collected each year, but they seem to be the most popular. Many dinosaur fossils are collected from around the world for sale by private collectors and there are also quite a few scientists like Paul from all over the world who are out there looking for and digging up dinosaur bones. We find tons of broken pieces of dinosaurs eroded out of the rock formations that we tour, some complete individual bones, and only a very few skeletons.
   
4. (Question For Carol) What kind of dinosaur would you like to discover?
   
   GUDANOWSKI: My favorite animals are birds, so naturally I love theropod dinosaurs, which are most closely related to modern-day birds. For example, I've been a fan of the Velociraptor ever since “Jurassic Park” came out! Considering the age of the fossil beds and what has been found in Niger previously, I would most likely run into a spinosaur (another theropod). So far I have only found a couple of teeth, but I also came across a lower jaw of a spinosaur-like dinosaur. We're not sure which one yet -- it may even be a new species!!! That would really be exciting! I can't wait until we open the jacket up in the lab and I can't wait to find some more fossils. Wish me luck!
   
5. Parent Question:
   Have you discovered anything new about previous fossils you have discovered?
   
   SERENO: One of our best finds is a perfect SuperCroc skull. Before, we had found a very good one, but there was one bone missing from the front of the upper jaw, and the skull had been a little compressed. As a result, we were not sure exactly how the jaws fit together. Now we will know because both the upper and lower jaws of this new skull are perfectly preserved. Can't wait to get it into the lab and cleaned!