Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fossil Adventure

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students work as a class to write a general definition of fossil based on their discussion and examine pictures of the different types of fossils. Once discussion is complete, they write and illustrate a book about a T Rex that has died...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rock Layers

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students interpret a rock core sample from a clay model. In small groups, they layer modeling clay in a plastic container using coarse-grained spices sprinkled in to represent fossils. They switch containers with another group and remove...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fossil Fantastic

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students collect found objects, including leaves, twigs, and buttons, and create hand-made "fossils" in this 2-day lesson for the 7th and 8th grade Science or Art classroom. This is a great cross-curricular exploration of fossils and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Studying Fossils

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students study fossils. They examine samples of specific fossils--including a shark tooth, a brachiopod, and horn coral, among others. They visit corresponding websites and complete a worksheet regarding each of the fossils.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making Fossils

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders examine the differences between cast and mold fossils. They discuss geological time and how many fossils are millions of years old, then create a cast fossil using clay and a shell, and a mold fossil using a shell and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dino Babies

For Teachers K - 2nd
Young scholars distinguish between dinosaurs and fossils. They escribe what paleontologists do and how they reconstruct the lives of dinosaurs from the fossil record. In addition, they state that dinosaurs hatched from eggs.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Evidence of Change

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Students identify evidence of change in species using fossils, anatomical similarities, and embryology. They identify homologous structures and arrange the steps of fossil formation. Students complete a group of selection of organisms...
Lesson Plan
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Dinosaurs

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students research and identify the characteristics of a variety of dinosaurs. They participate in a class discussion about dinosaurs, analyze and examine fossils, and conduct research using a variety of sources to write and present a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fossils

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders create a fossil using an impression made with a shell pressed into clay and filled with plaster of Paris and a mold made out of dough and impressed with a shell. They also will receive a paragraph which contains four...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Radiocarbon Dating

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students play the dating game by going to the website given by the teacher. They also are presented with the powerpoint, done the m&m simulation, and determine the age of the mummified seal and man.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Bare Bones Of Fossils

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Studentsare able to understand the three ways foosils were created. They are able to make a reconstruction of a puzzle or draw a picture based on cluses and limited pieces of the puzzle or animal. Students are able to explain how fossils...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Science NetLinks: Fossils and Geologic Time

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the development of the geologic time scale. Also, to introduce them to the major time periods in earth's history, as well as to the role fossils play in helping us understand this history.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fossils And Migration Patterns in Early Hominids

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students plot the general distribution of major fossil hominid taxa on a small black and white world map using data provided. They infer a continent of origin and likely path of migration using a worksheet guide and small group discussion.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dinosaurs

For Teachers K - 5th
Students will develop goals for inquiry. They will also improve content area reading and research skills. The context of studying dinosaurs will help learners to distinguish from organisms that live presently and those from the past...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fossils and Geologic Time

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the development of the geologic time scale. They examine the major time periods in earth's history. Students discuss the role fossils play in helping us understand history.
Lesson Plan
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Shells on the Mountain Top?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners work in groups to remove fossils from sediments, classifying as many organisms and parts of organisms as possible into major groups. They study the data from each formation and make conclusions about the types of organisms and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Identifying Dinosaurs

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students investigate basic information about dinosaurs. They listen to the book, "My Visit To the Dinosaurs," explore various websites, take an online quiz, and play an online dinosaur game.
Lesson Plan
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Earth's History

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders investigate how fossils are formed. They analyze a photo of the Grand Canyon, and create a fossil cast and mold using plaster of paris and shells.
Lesson Plan
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Earth's History

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders study the law of superposition by creating models of fossils in layers of rock. They examine how fossils are usually found in sedimentary rock which leads to the study of geologic history in those rocks.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

International Institute of Archaeology an Anthropology

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students research early humans and their cultures. They conduct Internet research, discuss their findings with their group, evaluate the information provided by artifacts, and create a report to present to a simulated archaeology institute.
Lesson Plan
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Fossilworks

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students research fossils and fossil formation. They explain how fossils are formed, identify fossil formations and use casting plaster to produce fossil replicas.
Lesson Plan
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Ocean Life

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners examine the fossil remains of ancient sea creatures. They create casts of fossils and identify how sea fossils are formed and consider what type of information fossils can give to scientists.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

BIRDS OF A FEATHER

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students observe and identify characteristics of artifacts and fossils; explain how artifacts and fossils are used to explore the past; and identify ways that Native Americans prepared food and made tools
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making Sedimentary Rocks

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students make models of sedimentary rock layers to explain how rocks form layers and represent ancient environments. Layers of sediment and fossils are added together to simulate the environment and connections to sedimentary rocks are...