C6 - Missoulian, Monday, March 26, 2012

TM

Proud partner in Community Education

Presents

Presents

Proud partner inCommunity Education

LEARN MORE ABOUT PREHISTORIC WORLDS IN THE NEXT TWO INSTALLMENTS OF WORLD OF WONDER© 2012 Triefeldt Studios, Inc.Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

At a bookstore near you: Two full-color World of Wonder compilations: “Plants & Animals” and “People & Places.” For more information, please visit QuillDriverBooks.com or call 800-605-7176

Every minute. Every day.

missoulian.com TeachersA teachers aid for the World of Wonder page is available at missoula.com/wonder/teachersguide.pdf.

Cut and attach to Part Three SOURCES: World Book Encyclopedia, World Book Inc.; www.devoniantimes.org; www.kidsturncentral.com; http://hoopermuseum.earthsci.carleton.ca; www.dinosaurfact.net; www.howjsay.com

Meganeura (pronounced meg-uh-NOOR-uh) Carboniferous period (360 million years ago)

These dragonfly-like insects are called griffinflies and had a wingspan of more than 2.5 feet (75 centimeters).

Cut and attach to Part One

Psaronius (pronounced SA-ro-ni-us)

Late Carboniferous (306 million years ago - time of

the great coal swamps)

Now extinct, this tree fern grew 32 to 49 feet (10 to 15 meters) high.

Todites (pronounced

(TOE-di-tse) Jurassic period

(199 million to 145 million years ago)

Calamites (pronounced CAL-a-MITES)

Late Carboniferous

(360 million to 286 million years ago)

These trees grew up to 30 feet

(9 meters) tall.

Fossil remains are the primary source of information about prehistoric animals

and plants. But ancient insects are usually discovered not in fossils, but preserved in amber (the hardened sap of ancient trees).

Phelbopteris (pronounced Fel-bo-TARE-is) Triassic period (250 million to 200 million years ago)

The age of oxygenThe atmosphere of the Car-boniferous period (360 million to 290 million years ago) was very high in oxygen. Through photosynthesis, the lush flora of the time caused oxygen levels to reach 35 percent, compared to modern-day measurements of 21 percent.Scientists theorize that the plants and animals of this time grew so large because of the higher oxygen levels and a more tropical climate. Catastrophic wildfires also occurred at this time. Ignited by lightning and/or volcanic activity, widespread fires fed on the high concentrations of oxygen.

Coal depositsOver time, the great forests and steamy swamps of the Carboniferous world were buried and crushed into coal. Coal is a fossil fuel and when we burn it, we are actually burning the remains of pre-historic plants, insects and animals.

Land of the giantsInsects and other creatures of enormous size thrived during this period. Some spiders walked on 18-inch (45cm) legs.

Arthropleura (pronounced Ar-throw-plur-a) Carboniferous period (300 million years ago)

This giant millipede grew up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) long.

Eobelinae (pronounced

Ay-bell-in-eye) Mesozoic Era

(250 million to 65 million years ago)

An ancestor of the modern weevil with its long snout,

this group of extinct beetles fed on plants

and trees.

Insect diversity increased dramatically during the

Cretaceous period, when flowering plants began to

dominate the landscape.

Early plants were found only in water. They emerged from the seas about 500 million years ago.

Modern forests and trees began to develop about 370 million years ago.

Archaeopteris (pronounced ARC-e-OPT-er-us) Late Devonian (385 million to 359 million years ago)

Now extinct, this is con-sidered to be one of the first modern trees (with bark and woody rings of growth). This giant could grow up to 98 feet (30 meters) high.

Culicidae (pronounced

kyoo-LISS-ih-dee) Mid-Cretaceous

(90 million to 100 million years ago)

Very similar to modern

mosquitoes.

Opiliones (pronounced O-pill-e-own-ees) Early Devonian (400 million years ago)

The spiderlike Harvestman arachnid

has been around since before the dinosaurs. It is not a true spider but

a close relative, like mites or scorpions.

Sometimes called a daddy longlegs, the modern version has changed very little.

PART TWO OF FOUR — COLLECT ALL FOUR AND MAKE A GIANT POSTER

PLANTS & INSECTS

PREHISTORIC LIFE