"It is the 21st century. There is only so much you can learn from staring at dinosaurs – visitors expect more." – Matt Johnson, Director, Imaginarium Museum, Ft. Myers, FL

The primary intended audience for Be the Dinosaur™ is K-8 and their caregivers, although previous hosts have commented that the exhibit is remarkable in the way it attracts and holds the attention of ALL age ranges – from the youngest children to senior citizens.

This first-of-its-kind exhibit, combining traditional exhibit elements with sophisticated computer simulation, has been developed with the advice and oversight of our distinguished panel of advisors. It was built from the ground-up to focus on what it is that visitors, particularly children, most wanted to know about dinosaurs - What did a dinosaur do all day? What was it like to be one? These are much the same questions that inspire paleontologists and the discoveries they make.

The "Be the Dinosaur™" Icon System:

Icons representing key educational elements clearly link the subject matter of both the physical and virtual aspects of Be the Dinosaur™ and reinforce the cyclical flow of learning between the simulation and the more traditional exhibit elements.

These icons represent 12 key concepts for exploration and discovery in the world of the dinosaurs. Each of the colorful icons is intuitively designed for ease of identification, and weaving these icons through all areas of the exhibit content makes the discovery of knowledge relating to each concept visual and immediate:

"The world around me" Defines an ecosystem and discusses the role of plants and animals in balancing the ecosystem.

Do I live alone or in groups? Deals with one of the basic mysteries of dinosaur behavior - were they solitary or social animals? What is the fossil evidence, what are the benefits and drawbacks to living this way and how would that affect an animal’s behavior?

How do I find food? Discusses the ongoing debate regarding the lifestyle of T. rex. Was it a hunter, a scavenger or both? The exhibit provides the evidence for and against as well as the benefits and risks and allows visitors to try the behaviors and form their own opinons on the subject.

How do I use my senses? How an animals senses affect behavior. How we can determine the capabilities of an animal from fossil evidence.

Do I hunt alone or in packs? Explorescompeting theories of tyrannosaur behavior -were they solitary or socialanimals. Presents the evidence for and pros and cons of each lifestyle and allows visitors to try each behavior in the simulation and form their own opinions.

How do I behave in groups? Explores social interaction between animals of the same species, the dynamic and strategies of herding behavior and the pros and cons of this type of lifestyle.

How do I find plants to eat? The basics of nutrition and digestion, dominant plant life as food sources for triceratops. Discusses select species of plants, modern relatives, growth pattern and nutritive value.

Triceratops and the lives of herbivores Discusses triceratops, the most numerous herbivore of the time, as an example of an herbivorous animal. Discusses the animal’s anatomy and what it suggests about possible behavior. Explores the basics of its nutrition and digestion and relates it to modern animals.

Creatures that share your world Provides an overview of the other animals (dinosaurs, mammals, reptiles, birds, fish and amphibians) that shared the world with tyrannosaurs and Triceratops.

T. rex and the lives of carnivores Discusses Tyrannosaurus rex, the most numerous carnivore of the time, as an example of a carnivorous animal. Discusses the animal’s anatomy and what that suggests about possible behavior. Explores the basics of its nutrition and digestion and relates it to modern animals.

Do I defend myself? Focuses on what the anatomy of an animal suggests about how it might have protected itself. Explores fight or flight, the ways in which an animal might defend itself, strategies for both herds and solitary creatures.

How do I stay healthy? Explores illness and injury in the fossil record, and strategies for staying healthy and safe in the virtual Cretaceous simulation.