Activity
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Paleotopia: Windows to the Past

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
A link to a website that contains teacher materials for a game that reinforces the concepts learned about fossils. Students can understand how the record of life on Earth is revealed by fossils as they become paleontologist in this game...
Handout
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Career Profile: Anthropologist

For Students 9th - 10th
Does examining all aspects of human life appeal to you? Would you like to explore the origins of man, of language, of culture? This Science Buddies site gives a good overview of what is involved in the career of anthropologist. Find out...
Website
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian Learning Lab: Digging Up Dirt: How Paleontologists Bring Dinosaurs Back to Life

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Teachers can download this teaching package that introduces students to the science of paleontology. Fossil formulation and details about the work of paleontologists are discussed. Find out how paleontologists discover, stabilize, and...
Article
Talk Origins Archive

Talk Origins Archive: Radiometric Dating and the Geological Time Scale

For Students 9th - 10th
A lengthy article with lots of information about radiometric dating, including pictures and charts.
Website
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian Learning Lab: Prehistoric Climate Change and Why It Matters Today

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Introduce students to environmental issues by studying a time of rapid global warming that occurred 50 million years ago. Lessons, video segments and interactive activities will engage students as they learn about average annual...
Handout
PBS

Pbs: Leakey Family Discovers Human Ancestors

For Students 9th - 10th
The PBS site covers the Leakey family and their discoveries in Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania. This information was part of a PBS exploration of human evolution.
Website
Other

Denver Museum of Nature and Science: Follow a Fossil

For Students 9th - 10th
Students examine paleontology, the study of ancient life on Earth. Some topics explored are vertebrates, invertebrates, and plants.
Unit Plan
Other

Fossil Facts and Finds

For Students 9th - 10th
A site devoted to fossils! Click on any of the main topics to access information regarding what fossils are, how they are formed, fossil collecting, student activities, fossil hunting, and even lesson plans.
Website
Other

Pella Museum: Paleontology and Geology of Jordan

For Students 9th - 10th
This English language site focuses on the paleontology, geology, and the fossilized flora, and fauna Jordan. Scientific articles are interspersed with extensive photographs and descriptions of various features.
Graphic
Other

The Paleontology Portal: Fossil Gallery

For Students 9th - 10th
An image gallery of fossils through time. Students choose a time period to see what life was like by studying the fossils.
Article
US Geological Survey

U.s. Geological Survey: Fossils, Rocks, and Time

For Students 9th - 10th
Publication delves into the importance of studying the Earth's history and how we go about doing it. View pictures and diagrams showing the geological time scale and fossil succession.
Activity
Children's Museum

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis: Who Should Own the Bones?

For Students 6th - 8th
In this dinosaur WebQuest for Grades 6-8, two college students find fossils in a park and try to sell them, discovering it is against the law. Students will examine the positions of people on opposite sides of the argument over the...
Activity
Children's Museum

Children's Museum of Indianapolis: Geo Mysteries

For Students 3rd - 8th
This interactive site will engage students' curiosity as they learn about the various types of rocks and how they are formed. Also includes a fantastic timeline, showing the formation of rocks throughout history.
Activity
Children's Museum

Children's Museum of Indianapolis: Floating Rock Geo Mysteries

For Students 3rd - 8th
Did you know that there are some rocks that actually float? Follow this interactive investigation to find out which ones and why.
Interactive
Children's Museum

Children's Museum of Indianapolis: Geo Mysteries: Broken Necklace Mystery

For Students 3rd - 8th
A fun fossil activity for younger students.
Unit Plan
Scholastic

Scholastic: Study Jams! Science: Landforms, Rocks & Minerals: Fossils

For Students 2nd - 8th
Watch a slideshow featuring the makeup and value of fossils and take a quiz on the facts.
Graphic
Other

E Fossils: Comparative Anatomy

For Students 9th - 10th
Learning about fossils? Select from six types of bones and proceed through the options of view, hominin, specimen, sex, age and tool marks for visual images of fossils.
Handout
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of Natural History: Paleobiology: The Cambrian Period

For Students 9th - 10th
Journey into the past while reading this comprehensive overview of the Cambrian Period that covers topics such as the Cambrian Explosion, Burgess Shale fauna, trilobites, fossil evidence, and climate and plate tectonics.
Handout
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of Natural History: Paleobiology: The Ordovician Period

For Students 9th - 10th
Journey into the past while reading this comprehensive overview of the Ordovician Period that covers topics such as reef ecosystems, Paleozoic Fauna, fossil evidence, and climate and plate tectonics.
Handout
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of Natural History: Paleobiology: The Archaean Eon

For Students 9th - 10th
Journey into the past while reading this comprehensive overview of the Archaean Eon that covers topics such as early continents and oceans, first life on Earth, Earth's atmosphere, fossil evidence, and plate tectonics.
Article
DOGO Media

Dogo News: 5 26 14: Newly Unearthed Titanosaur May Be the Biggest Dinosaur

For Students 1st - 8th
What is the largest dinosaur that ever lived on Earth? Scientists may soon be giving a new answer to this question. Includes video.
Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Episd: History of Life

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Students will explore ways to study the past to learn about the history of life. Understand how fossils, DNA analysis, and molecular clock help researchers study...
Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Episd: Fossils

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Researchers studying the history of life on Earth spend hours digging, examining, pouring over fossils. What can fossils reveal about the past? Find out what fossils...
Article
DOGO Media

Dogo News: Pterosaur Found in Utah Quarry Had 110 Teeth

For Students 5th - 8th
Read about the unusual characteristics of a pterosaur discovered in Utah. Includes video.