Tiny Titans: Dinosaur Eggs and Babies, open until May 30, 2022, at the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center, is an interactive exhibition that offers an astounding array of authentic dinosaur eggs and nests collected from all across the globe, in addition to great hands-on play experiences! Kids can dig for eggs, dress up like a parent dinosaur to brood their nest, and feel the texture of dinosaur eggs. Cute babies and fun dinosaur facts will keep the whole family playing and learning. The exhibit is divided into four sections based on the different families of dinosaurs: Ceratopsians, Sauropods, Theropods and Ornithopods. Each space provides visitors with a bevy of interesting information and activities about that particular type of dinosaur.
What are Sauropods?
Sauropod (SAWR-o-pod) means “Lizard Footed” and is made up of a herbivorous group of long-necked dinosaurs that had small heads with a small brain and long tail.
• Sauropods were the physically largest group of dinosaurs.
• Sauropods were probably precocial — meaning they were ready to fend for themselves when they hatched. There are a few likely reasons for this: parents were enormous compared to their babies and it would have been hard for parents to see them.
• Tracks show juveniles were half-grown before they joined the herd.
What can kids do at the Sauropod section in Tiny Titans?
• Dig for Sauropod eggs in a Dino Dig pit.
• See real fossilized Sauropod eggs.
• See and touch egg structure models of Sauropod eggs and see how the baby dinosaurs fit inside the eggs.
• See a magnified view of Titanosaur embryo skin.
• See a magnified view of a Sauropod eggshell.
• Compare dinosaur eggs to modern bird eggs, such as chicken, ostrich and hummingbird eggs.
What do kids learn at the Ceratopsian section in Tiny Titans?
• Some Sauropod eggs, like those found in the Patagonian Desert, had thick shells, while other Sauropod eggs found in France, Argentina and India had thin shells. The exhibit shows eggs of varying shapes and sizes. When children compare and contrast they are learning to observe, classify and describe objects — all critical skills for learning science and math.
• The exhibit’s touchable fossil replicas and dig pits let children use their sense of touch to explore. Sensory play that lets children touch, squeeze, smell and feel helps build connections in the brain.
• Which came first: the dinosaur or the egg? Find out at Tiny Titans!
• Sauropods grew to huge sizes during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. One species, the Argentinosaurus, grew up to 130 feet in length and is considered the longest and heaviest land animal of all time.
• Sauropods have been found on every continent, including Antarctica.
Tiny Titans: Dinosaur Eggs and Babies is a traveling exhibit series created by Silver Plume Exhibitions and featuring artwork from Luis V. Rey and Mark Hallet, as well as stunning photography by Louie Pshioyos. The exhibit is generously sponsored locally by the Topeka Lodging Association and Visit Topeka, Inc. Tiny Titans will be on display at the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center from February 24 to May 30, 2022, and is included in regular admission.
MORE DINO INFO: Find out more about the Theropods here.