Curated OER
Absolute Ages of Rocks
For this age of rocks worksheet, students answer five matching questions about terms related to the decay of atoms. They use a strip of paper to simulate half life of atoms and determine the total amount of time it took to deplete the...
Curated OER
Using Radioactive Decay To Determine Age
Students explore the process of carbon dating fossils to determine their age. They simulate radioactive decay using pennies in a shoe box. Heads represents a decayed atom each time they shake the box. They use the data to calculate the...
Curated OER
Absolute Ages of Rocks
In this ages of rock learning exercise, students review the processes involved with determining the ages of rocks which includes the radioactive decay of carbon-14. This learning exercise has 5 matching and 5 short answer questions.
Curated OER
Digging Into Science Lesson Plans
In this biology learning exercise, students identify and write the various species that are still present today. Then they define evolution using three words. Students also describe what a fossil is and give some examples related to a...
Curated OER
Not Just For A Baby's Bottom
Eighth graders investigate the presence of talc in the geologic record. The different characteristics of talc is covered. The lesson includes background information for the teacher.
Curated OER
Prehistory: Our Ancestors Emerge
In this prehsitory worksheet, students read a 3-page article about antropological finds and then respond to 2 short answer questions based on the article.
Curated OER
Human Prehistory
Young scholars discuss the history of humans. In this human history lesson, students describe how the placement of the continents changed and where the humans began and traveled to. They discuss interaction with Neanderthals and...
Curated OER
Law of Superposition
Learners identify the law of superposition and it states that beds of rock in a series are laid down with the oldest at the bottom and younger layers on the top. They construct a legen for a block diagram and construct a block diagram...
Curated OER
Seed Plant Reinforcement
In this plant worksheet, middle schoolers contrast gymnosperms and angiosperms by completing a table and using information from their textbook. They also identify 5 plants as either monocot or dicot and complete 3 short answer questions...
American Geosciences Institute
American Geological Institute: Evolution and the Fossil Record
The American Geological Institute has done an excellent job of defining and explaining evolution in this online booklet. Darwin, fossils, natural selection, and change over time are some of the concepts that are covered. Make sure to see...
University of California
University of California Museum of Paleontology: Stories From the Fossil Record
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.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Life Science: 4.4 Fossils
Understand fossils and the fossil record as it relates to Earth's history.
American Geosciences Institute
American Geosciences Institute: Fossils
Seven hands-on lessons module where students learn about fossils. These inquiry-based investigations explore how fossils form, properties of fossils, comparing fossils, how they show the age of the Earth, and what paleontologists do.
University of California
University of California Museum of Paleontology: Fossil Evidence
Understanding Evolution provides evidence for evolution using fossils. There are also links to lesson plans.
Other
Western Oregon University: Earth System Science: Geologic Time [Pdf]
An 81-page slideshow that looks at the principles of geology with respect to relative dating, at different concepts describing geological processes, at absolute age and radiometric dating, at the eons and eras in the geologic time scale,...
Science Struck
Science Struck: The Meaning of Index Fossils Explained
Explains the importance of index fossils for the dating and chronology of events in the fossil and geological records. Discusses uses and examples of index fossils in the Cenozoic, Mesozoic, and Paleozoic Eras.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Life Science: Fossils
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Fossils are the preserved remains of animals, plants, and other organisms from the distant past. By studying fossils, evidence for evolution is revealed....
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: Earth History and Clues From Fossils
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] How scientists can learn information about the past from fossils.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: Earth History and Clues From Fossils
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] How scientists can learn information about the past from fossils.
Other
Bio Web Evolution: Homepage
This site from BioWeb Evolution was originally created as a ThinkQuest entry, and it has some good basic information about evolution. This page is on fossils and geologic time.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Biology: History of Life
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] This comprehensive lesson by CK-12 explains how scientists learn about the past by examining and dating fossils.
American Geosciences Institute
American Geosciences Institute: How Can We Tell How Old Rocks Are?
Find out how scientists can find out the age of the rocks they are studying.
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: Geologic Time and Correlation
In this amazing interactive tutorial you will learn about what methods are used by geologists to learn about the history of the Earth. Investigate a geologic time scale and learn about how scientists have developed and organized a record...