Scientists have found the biggest sea reptile ever known. This huge creature lived about 202 million years ago and was longer than two buses put together. In 2016, a fossil hunter found the fossilized jawbone of this reptile on a beach in Somerset, UK. Then, in 2020, another jawbone was found by a dad and his daughter. Experts think these fossils belong to two giant ichthyosaurs, which could have been as long as 25 meters. That’s even bigger than a pliosaur, which was featured in a David Attenborough documentary.

Dr. Dean Lomax, a scientist who studies fossils, says that the size of the jawbones suggests that the whole animal would have been about 25 meters long, which is about the same size as a blue whale. But we need more evidence, like a complete skull and skeleton, to know for sure. So far, we’ve only found a few pieces. The giant ichthyosaur died out a long time ago, and the ones that came after it were never as big.

In 2016, a guy named Paul de la Salle found the first jawbone while he was looking for fossils on a beach in Somerset. He showed it to Dr. Dean Lomax, and they thought it might be something important. They published their findings in 2018, but they wanted more evidence to figure out how big the creature was. Then, in 2020, a dad and his daughter found another jawbone 10 kilometers away, which confirmed their suspicions.

The team, along with their family members, kept searching for more pieces of the second jawbone. They found the last piece in 2022. This helped them estimate the size of the creature. The scientists have now decided that this huge animal is a new kind of ichthyosaur. They named it Ichthyotitan severnensis, which means “giant fish lizard of the Severn.” The jawbone found by Paul de la Salle has been studied for three years and will soon be shown at the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery.

This discovery shows how important it is to have amateur fossil collectors. Dr. Dean Lomax says that anyone, no matter how much they know about fossils, can make amazing discoveries if they’re patient and observant. He thinks that families and individuals from all different backgrounds can help scientists learn more about paleontology.

Original news source: Prehistoric sea reptile ‘twice as long as bus’ (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the students into pairs. Give each pair a copy of the article. Ask them to read the article and write a summary of the main points in their own words. After a few minutes, have the pairs share their summaries with the class.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Divide the students into small groups. Ask each group to discuss and come up with their opinions on the following question: “Do you think amateur fossil collectors are important for scientific discoveries? Why or why not?” After the groups have discussed, have each group present their opinions to the class. Facilitate a class discussion on the topic.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write a list of key vocabulary words from the article on the board. Divide the students into small groups. Give each group a piece of paper and a pen. Each group should take turns choosing a word from the list and drawing a picture to represent that word. The other groups should try to guess the word based on the drawing. The group that guesses correctly gets a point. The group with the most points at the end wins.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Ask the students to think about the following question: “What would you do if you found a fossil on a beach?” Give the students a few minutes to think individually. Then, pair them up and have them share their answers with each other. After that, ask a few pairs to share their answers with the class.

– Two Truths and a Lie
Instructions: Ask each student to come up with two true statements and one false statement related to the article. They should not reveal which statement is false. In small groups, have the students take turns sharing their statements and the rest of the group should guess which statement is the lie. After each student has shared, facilitate a class discussion on the topic of the article using the true statements as discussion points.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What did scientists recently discover?
2. How long ago did the huge sea reptile live?
3. Where were the fossilized jawbones found?
4. How long could the giant ichthyosaurs have been?
5. What evidence is needed to confirm the size of the whole animal?
6. Who found the first jawbone in 2016?
7. How did the second jawbone confirm the scientists’ suspicions?
8. What is the name of the new kind of ichthyosaur that was discovered?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Scientists have found the biggest sea reptile ever known. This huge (1)______ lived about 202 million years ago and was longer than two buses put together. In 2016, a fossil hunter found the fossilized jawbone of this reptile on a beach in Somerset, UK. Then, in 2020, another jawbone was found by a dad and his daughter. Experts (2)______ these fossils belong to two giant ichthyosaurs, which could have been as long as 25 meters. That’s even (3)______ than a pliosaur, which was featured in a David Attenborough documentary.

Dr. Dean Lomax, a (4)______ who studies fossils, says that the size of the (5)______s suggests that the whole animal would have been about 25 meters long, which is about the same size as a blue whale. But we need more evidence, like a complete (7)______ and skeleton, to know for sure. So far, we’ve only found a few pieces. The giant ichthyosaur died out a long time ago, and the ones that came after it were never as big.

In 2016, a guy named Paul de la Salle found the first jawbone while he was looking for fossils on a beach in Somerset. He (8)______ it to Dr. Dean Lomax, and they thought it might be something important. They published their findings in 2018, but they wanted more evidence to figure out how big the creature was. Then, in 2020, a dad and his (9)______ (10)______ another jawbone 10 kilometers away, which confirmed their suspicions.

The team, along with their family members, kept searching for more pieces of the second jawbone. They found the last piece in 2022. This (11)______ them estimate the size of the creature. The scientists have now decided that this huge animal is a new kind of ichthyosaur. They (12)______ it Ichthyotitan severnensis, which means “giant fish lizard of the Severn.” The jawbone found by Paul de la (13)______ has been studied for three years and will soon be shown at the (14)______ Museum and Art (15)______.

This discovery shows how important it is to have amateur fossil collectors. Dr. Dean (16)______ says that anyone, no matter how much they know about fossils, can make amazing discoveries if they’re patient and observant. He thinks that families and individuals from all different backgrounds can help scientists learn more about paleontology.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is a fossil?
2. How do scientists know how big the sea reptile was?
3. How would you feel if you found a fossil on a beach?
4. Do you think it’s important to have amateur fossil collectors? Why or why not?
5. Why do you think the scientists named the new kind of ichthyosaur “Ichthyotitan severnensis”?
6. Do you like learning about dinosaurs and prehistoric animals? Why or why not?
7. What do you think it would be like to see a complete skeleton of the giant ichthyosaur?
8. How do you think the giant ichthyosaur became extinct?
9. Why do you think the scientists needed more evidence to confirm the size of the creature?
10. Have you ever found something interesting or valuable? What was it?
11. Do you think it’s important for families and individuals to contribute to scientific research? Why or why not?
12. How do you think the discovery of the giant ichthyosaur will contribute to our understanding of paleontology?
13. Would you like to study fossils and prehistoric animals? Why or why not?
14. What do you think it takes to be a successful fossil hunter?
15. Why do you think the scientists want to show the jawbone at the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. fossilized
2. ichthyosaurs
3. pliosaur
4. documentary
5. evidence
6. skeleton
7. suspicions
8. estimate
9. amateur
10. paleontology
11. observant
12. creature
13. fossil
14. jawbone
15. reptile

Meanings:
(A) Beliefs or feelings that something might be true
(B) The bone structure that forms the mouth and holds the teeth
(C) The framework of bones in a body
(D) Information or objects that help prove something
(E) Turned into stone over a long period of time
(F) The remains of a prehistoric organism preserved in rock
(G) The study of ancient life through fossils
(H) Someone who does something for fun and not as a job
(I) A cold-blooded animal that lays eggs and has scales or scutes
(J) Any living being, especially an animal
(K) Large marine reptiles that lived millions of years ago
(L) To make a rough calculation or judgment about something
(M) A film or TV program that provides factual information about a subject
(N) A type of large marine reptile with a short neck and large head
(O) Quick to notice things
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. When did scientists find the fossilized jawbone of the giant sea reptile?
(a) In 2016
(b) In 2020
(c) In 2018
(d) In 2022

2. How long could the giant ichthyosaurs have been?
(a) 10 meters
(b) 25 meters
(c) 50 meters
(d) 5 meters

3. What is the name of the scientist who studies fossils?
(a) Dr. Dean Lomax
(b) Paul de la Salle
(c) David Attenborough
(d) Ichthyotitan severnensis

4. What evidence do scientists need to determine the size of the whole animal?
(a) More jawbones
(b) A complete skull and skeleton
(c) Fossilized teeth
(d) The location of the fossils

5. Where will the jawbone found by Paul de la Salle be shown?
(a) Somerset, UK
(b) David Attenborough Museum
(c) Bristol Museum and Art Gallery
(d) The beach where it was found

6. What is the name of the new kind of ichthyosaur?
(a) Giant fish lizard of the Severn
(b) Pliosaur
(c) Ichthyotitan severnensis
(d) Blue whale

7. What does Dr. Dean Lomax think about amateur fossil collectors?
(a) They are not important in paleontology
(b) They should not be allowed to search for fossils
(c) They need to have a lot of knowledge about fossils
(d) They can make amazing discoveries

8. How long ago did the giant ichthyosaur die out?
(a) 202 million years ago
(b) 2016
(c) 2022
(d) A long time ago

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The fossils are believed to belong to two giant ichthyosaurs, which could have been as long as 25 meters.
2. Fossilized jawbones of this reptile were not found on a beach in Somerset, UK.
3. Scientists have recently rediscovered the largest land reptile ever known.
4. The newly discovered species of ichthyosaur has been named Ichthyotitan severnensis and will not be displayed at the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery.
5. The creature lived around 210 million years ago and was shorter than two buses put together.
6. The size of the jawbones suggests that the entire animal would have been about the same length as a blue whale.
7. The jawbone found in 2016 was shown to Dr. Dean Lomax, who recognized its significance.
8. More evidence, such as a complete skull and skeleton, is needed to confirm the size of the creature.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. What is the name of the newly discovered sea reptile?
2. How long ago did this sea reptile live?
3. How did the scientists estimate the size of the creature?
4. Where was the first jawbone found?
5. Why is it important to have amateur fossil collectors?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What did scientists recently discover?
Scientists recently discovered the biggest sea reptile ever known.

2. How long ago did the huge sea reptile live?
The huge sea reptile lived about 202 million years ago.

3. Where were the fossilized jawbones found?
The fossilized jawbones were found on a beach in Somerset, UK.

4. How long could the giant ichthyosaurs have been?
The giant ichthyosaurs could have been as long as 25 meters.

5. What evidence is needed to confirm the size of the whole animal?
A complete skull and skeleton are needed to confirm the size of the whole animal.

6. Who found the first jawbone in 2016?
A guy named Paul de la Salle found the first jawbone in 2016.

7. How did the second jawbone confirm the scientists’ suspicions?
The second jawbone found by a dad and his daughter confirmed the scientists’ suspicions about the size of the creature.

8. What is the name of the new kind of ichthyosaur that was discovered?
The new kind of ichthyosaur that was discovered is called Ichthyotitan severnensis.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) creature
(2) think
(3) bigger
(4) scientist
(5) jawbone
(6) jawbones
(7) skull
(8) showed
(9) daughter
(10) found
(11) helped
(12) named
(13) Salle
(14) Bristol
(15) Gallery
(16) Lomax
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. fossilized
Answer: (E) Turned into stone over a long period of time

2. ichthyosaurs
Answer: (K) Large marine reptiles that lived millions of years ago

3. pliosaur
Answer: (N) A type of large marine reptile with a short neck and large head

4. documentary
Answer: (M) A film or TV program that provides factual information about a subject

5. evidence
Answer: (D) Information or objects that help prove something

6. skeleton
Answer: (C) The framework of bones in a body

7. suspicions
Answer: (A) Beliefs or feelings that something might be true

8. estimate
Answer: (L) To make a rough calculation or judgment about something

9. amateur
Answer: (H) Someone who does something for fun and not as a job

10. paleontology
Answer: (G) The study of ancient life through fossils

11. observant
Answer: (O) Quick to notice things

12. creature
Answer: (J) Any living being, especially an animal

13. fossil
Answer: (F) The remains of a prehistoric organism preserved in rock

14. jawbone
Answer: (B) The bone structure that forms the mouth and holds the teeth

15. reptile
Answer: (I) A cold-blooded animal that lays eggs and has scales or scutes
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. When did scientists find the fossilized jawbone of the giant sea reptile?
Answer: (a) In 2016

2. How long could the giant ichthyosaurs have been?
Answer: (b) 25 meters

3. What is the name of the scientist who studies fossils?
Answer: (a) Dr. Dean Lomax

4. What evidence do scientists need to determine the size of the whole animal?
Answer: (b) A complete skull and skeleton

5. Where will the jawbone found by Paul de la Salle be shown?
Answer: (c) Bristol Museum and Art Gallery

6. What is the name of the new kind of ichthyosaur?
Answer: (c) Ichthyotitan severnensis

7. What does Dr. Dean Lomax think about amateur fossil collectors?
Answer: (d) They can make amazing discoveries

8. How long ago did the giant ichthyosaur die out?
Answer: (d) A long time ago
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The fossils are believed to belong to two giant ichthyosaurs, which could have been as long as 25 meters. (Answer: True)
2. Fossilized jawbones of this reptile were not found on a beach in Somerset, UK. (Answer: False)
3. Scientists have recently rediscovered the largest land reptile ever known. (Answer: False)
4. The newly discovered species of ichthyosaur has been named Ichthyotitan severnensis and will not be displayed at the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery. (Answer: False)
5. The creature lived around 210 million years ago and was shorter than two buses put together. (Answer: False)
6. The size of the jawbones suggests that the entire animal would have been about the same length as a blue whale. (Answer: True)
7. The jawbone found in 2016 was shown to Dr. Dean Lomax, who recognized its significance. (Answer: True)
8. More evidence, such as a complete skull and skeleton, is needed to confirm the size of the creature. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧