Fossils Lesson Plans

Learners compare the three types of fossils: preserved organisms, mineral replacement fossils, and impression fossils. They create a model of amber, sponge fossil, and make traces of fossil.

This lesson has learners examine how fossils are formed. They view videos, make models of fossils and determine what information can be gleaned from studying fossils including information about the fossil and the environment in which it was created.

In this lesson students recall prior knowledge of the process of fossilization. In this fossils lesson, students first create and at a later date, recover fossils. In this lesson students understand the painstaking process of recovering a fossil. In this lesson students recover and identify the fossil they are uncovering.

In this lesson students create an evolutionary tree based on fossil morphology and their ages. In this fossil record lesson plan, students are given 23 pictures of fossil. They study their morphology and arrange the fossils by age and structures on a chart with time periods. In this lesson students tape the fossils in place and analyze their results to form a phylogenic tree.

This lesson has students examine how scientists use fossil evidence to trace evolution of various species and methods used to date fossils.

Students explore types of fossils and discover how sediment affects fossil preservation. They focus their study on trace fossils and create their own using sediment, water, and a small organism such as a snail or lizard. Students use plaster of Paris to make casts of the fossil to mimic the preservation of fossil records.

Students investigate fossils and compare/contrast fossils to living organisms. They explore various websites, compare a horse to a stegosaurus, and draw a diagram demonstrating the process of fossilization.

This lesson has learners examine a world map and read a news article about the discovery of a giant frog fossil. In this earth science and current event lesson, the teacher introduces an article with a discussion about continental drift and a vocabulary activity, then learners read the news report and participate in a discussion about Pangaea. Lesson includes interdisciplinary follow-up activities.

In this lesson learners practice dating fossils. They learn the concept of "deep time"--that earth was formed billions of years ago. They experience excellent hand-outs and virtual age tutorial links.

Students explore how to read fossil range charts. They develop an knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of the fossil record. Students become familiar with the concepts index fossil and fossil range. Students use bar graphs to plot fossil ranges. They develop an knowledge of 'relative time' using fossil range charts.