Lesson Plan
University of Florida

Florida Museum of Natural History: Prehistoric Life

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
The focus of this guide is on exploring the massive ancient creatures that roamed the Earth millions of years ago.
Lesson Plan
Children's Museum

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis: Dinosphere

For Teachers K - 1st
Students will learn how dinosaurs were classified, compare shapes and sizes, and explore how paleontologists make discoveries. They'll analyze how dinosaurs interacted back in the day, and make their own dinosaur drawings and a fossil cast.
Lesson Plan
Children's Museum

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis: Mold and Cast

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students will define the term fossil, identify the difference between a mold and a cast fossil, and understand how scientists use models to learn about the physical structure of something in the natural world.
Lesson Plan
Children's Museum

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis: Measuring a Dino

For Teachers K - 1st
Students will begin exploring dinosaur' bodies by measuring them and comparing dinosaur size to their own size.
Website
Yale University

Yale Peabody Museum

For Students 9th - 10th
This home page describes what the museum has to offer. Links to the exhibits and more information is provided at the bottom of the site.
Website
Other

Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences

For Students 9th - 10th
This site can be viewed in 3 different languages. When a language is chosen information about the institute comes up and icons are presented for more information.
Unit Plan
University of California

University of California Museum of Paleontology: Stories From the Fossil Record

For Students 4th - 9th
This colorful, interactive site demonstrates how fossils can be used to discover a range of information about the past. Topics include Past Lives, Paleoecology, Geologic History, and Biodiversity.
Activity
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Activity: The Voyage of the Beagle

For Students 9th - 10th
In this activity, you'll learn how to interpret images and maps in order to extract information about Darwin's trip to the Galapagos Islands. Links provided for a gallery of images and a worksheet.
Unit Plan
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Dinosaur Train

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Dinosaur Train sparks children's interest in life science and natural history. As they explore a variety of animals, children develop the inquiry skills and knowledge needed to help them think, talk and act like paleontologists. Choose...
Interactive
BBC

Bbc: Conditions for Fossil Formation

For Students 9th - 10th
This interactive animation allows you to try different areas to see how suitable they are for fossil formation.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

National Park Service: Fossils in Time Unit

For Teachers 5th - 9th
In this lesson, students learn about the earth's past by studying clues that have been left behind, such as fossils and rocks. Students will find the answers to many questions: What is paleontology?, What is geological time?, What can we...
Article
Georgia State University

Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Fossil Distribution

For Students 9th - 10th
One of the first lines of evidence suggesting the existence of plate tectonics was the discovery of very similar fossils in rock masses separated by vast distances and by ocean expanses. It suggested that those land areas had in the past...
Activity
American Museum of Natural History

American Museum of Natural History: O Logy: Stuff to Do: Finding Fossils

For Students 9th - 10th
Guidelines for investigating fossils in the field include specimen-finding strategies, dos and don'ts, examples of the kinds of fossils you may see, and other helpful information, such as how to record your observations and finds in a...
Website
University of Nebraska

University of Nebraska State Museum: Ashfall Fossil Beds Resources

For Students 9th - 10th
The Ashfall Fossil Beds are located in Nebraska, and this page highlights information about the fossil beds and some of the research being undertaken there.
Handout
University of California

Ucmp: Introducing Crinoids

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from University of California is an introduction to crinoids with pictures. Click on another link to learn about the history and ecology, fossils, or morphology.
Graphic
University of California

Ucmp: Fossil Record

For Students 9th - 10th
Charts when certain species of plants first appeared.
PPT
University of California

Ucmp: Paleoecology

For Students 3rd - 8th
This engaging presentation gives examples of insights gained throught the science of paleoecology. Examples are provided that show how paleoecologists use fossils to determine past climates, ecosystem changes and interactions between...
Activity
University of California

Ucmp: Mystery Fossils

For Students 9th - 10th
Each month a new mystery fossil is presented for students to try to identify, giving them a taste of what paleontologists are confronted with in their work.
Website
University of Nebraska

Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historic Park

For Students 9th - 10th
The Ashfall Fossil Beds are located in Nebraska. Much of the research done there is conducted by scientists from the University of Nebraska and the Nebraska State Museum. The history, geology and paleontology of the site are described....
Website
University of California

Ucmp: Dinoflagellates

For Students 9th - 10th
The University of California provides background material on dinoflagellates which exhibit bioluminescence. Site includes information on their fossil record, ecology, and structure.
Handout
University of California

Ucmp: The Tyrant Lizards: The Tyrannosauridae

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from the University of California provides basic information on T. rex with links to related material great for a quick introduction.
Website
University of California

Ucmp: Inferring the Possible Speed of Dinosaurs

For Students 9th - 10th
An essay detailing the evidence used to determine how quickly dinosaurs moved. Includes pictures of fossilized dinosaur tracks.
Unit Plan
Tramline

Tramline: Dinosaurs: A Prehistoric Adventure for Grades 2 5

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
Click "Start Fieldtrip," for a wonderful look at a subject that has been a constant amazement to children of all ages. This dinosaur learning module for grades 1-3 is a "Prehistoric adventure," discussing dinosaur fossils, the size of...
Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: How Life Begins in the Deep Ocean

For Students 9th - 10th
Educator, Tierney Thys, relates the story of a sea urchin's different phases of development while revealing a beautiful tale of fertilization, development and growth in the deep ocean. [6:02]