September 17, 2012

Primeval Whirl

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Photo via Disney Parks

When they enter Animal Kingdom’s DinoLand U.S.A., Guests step back in time. The 40-foot long, 20-foot high Dino Sue guards the Dino Institute where the thrilling Dinosaur! transports Guests through prehistory in specially designed time rovers. But my kids really enjoy one special area of this land—Chester and Hester’s Dino-Rama—which is sort of a park within a park…within a park. Dino-Rama offers a variety of carnival-style games, attractions, and shops. Fly a Dumbo-like Triceratops (I always thought pterodactyls would make more sense for this ride), explore the Boneyard, or test your ring-tossing skills.

The one ride at Dino-Rama that my youngest is just itching to ride is Primeval Whirl. It’s been on his to-do list for two years, and he’s still just a hair too short.

Photo via Disney Parks

Primeval Whirl originally opened in 2002 and was refurbished last year. On this carny coaster, big kids, teens, and adults whirl in spinning ride vehicles up steep inclines, down plunging dips, and through twisting turns and tight curves. Each ride is a new experience, because you never know which way your car will hurl you on this race to outrun extinction.

Today’s Takeaway:
Meteors and asteroids crash all around as Primeval Whirl ride vehicles meander through the course. By placing you, the Guest/student, in the meteor storm, it brings a popular scientific theory to life and makes learning fun and exciting.

Today, follow this unit study from “iijuan12” on Squidoo to gain a better understanding of astronomy and what goes on in “outer space.” You will study fine art, make edible asteroids, sing, have a meteorite scavenger hunt, and much more.

Description: This is part 3 of a 4 part hands-on unit study on Astronomy. Make a comet, study and paint Van Gogh’s “Starry Night ,” decorate a cookie to learn the parts of the sun, form asteroids out of mashed potatoes, assemble constellations marshmallows, and more!

SCHOOL SUBJECT: Astronomy
SKILL LEVEL: Elementary

About Jodi Whisenhunt

Jodi Whisenhunt has written 809 posts in this blog.

Jodi Whisenhunt is an award-winning freelance writer and editor who has visited Walt Disney World numerous times and has been homeschooling since 2000. She is the author of MAGICAL MOUSE SCHOOLHOUSE: Learn While You Play at Walt Disney World Resort, available for purchase at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and CreateSpace. You can also find her work at Chip & Company, WDW FanZone, and various places on the web. Come, think outside the textbook and stretch the walls of your home classroom with Walt Disney entertainment!