Summary
Dinosaurs died out long before cameras, so how can scientists say what color they were? Len Bloch shows how tiny fossilized structures called melanosomes, plus the physics of light, let researchers reconstruct a dinosaur's true colors.
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Ages 7+
TED-Ed lessons move quickly and use rich vocabulary — best for grades 5–6 (some grade 4 with support). No content concerns; preview once for pace.
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
Discussion
This lesson shows how fossils and the science of light reveal a dinosaur's real colors.
- How can a fossil hold clues about an animal's color?
- Why do scientists need evidence instead of just guessing?
- What does this tell you about how fossils help us study the past?
Quick work-a-long
Vocabulary: fossil, evidence, pigment, melanosome.
Try it: Color a dinosaur two ways — a pure guess and an 'evidence-based' version. Explain your reasoning.