Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Earth Science: Earth History and Clues From Fossils

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] How scientists can learn information about the past from fossils.
Graphic
University of California

Ucmp: Fossil Record

For Students 9th - 10th
Charts when certain species of plants first appeared.
Graphic
Other

Fossil Museum: Geologic Time

For Students 9th - 10th
Pictures of fossils are arranged in chronological sequence and by geologic period. Pictures include scientific names and location where the fossils were found.
Website
Other

Fossil Image Gallery

For Students 9th - 10th
Images of fossils are listed by taxon. Fossils are also listed by location and geologic era.
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Humanity on the Record

For Teachers 11th - 12th Standards
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about prehistoric evolution of the human race. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Handout
Indiana University

Indiana Univ. Bloomington: Reference Documents: Common Fossils of Indiana [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
A fact card describing five fossils common to Indiana.
Unit Plan
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian Learning Lab: Fossils: Footprints Across Time

For Students 9th - 10th
Smithsonian Education presents "Fossils: Footprints Across Time." Teachers can download this teaching package that introduces students to the study of fossils. Students will discover what fossils can teach us about the Earth as it was...
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
Other

Virtual Fossil Museum: Fossils Across Geological Time and Evolution

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about fossils throughout geological time. Includes images of different types of fossils.
Handout
University of California

Ucmp: Aves: Fossil Record

For Students 9th - 10th
A very good article on the fossil evidence and the prominent theory on the evolution of birds. Addresses both sides and presents information. Predominently agrees with the pro-dinosaurian point of view.
Graphic
University of California

Ucmp: Uc Museum of Paleontology/ Fossil Records of Porifera

For Students 9th - 10th
Takes a look at the fossils of sponges, and describes what they mean in terms of evolution.
Article
American Museum of Natural History

American Museum of Natural History: O Logy: What's the Big Idea? Paleontology

For Students 3rd - 8th
Snapshot reference on paleontology explains how the fossil record drives this area of science.
Lesson Plan
Other

American Coal Foundation: Lesson Plan: Coal Formation

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
In this four-part instructional activity, students will conduct a simulation of the coal formation process and will show the ability to do scientific inquiry. For the final project, they will use their findings they have recorded on...
Unit Plan
University of California

Ucmp: The Evolution of Flight in Birds

For Students 9th - 10th
Evidence from the fossil record is used to support bird evolution from small carnivorous dinosaurs. In the student module, feathers, behavior, and skeletal structure are examined in an interactive lesson designed to impart a complete...
Unit Plan
BBC

Bbc: Gcse Bitesize: Evolution Aqa

For Students 9th - 10th
Evolution is the change of inherited characteristics within a population over time through natural selection, which may result in the formation of a new species. Fossils provide a record of organisms that lived a long time ago. They also...
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...
Interactive
Other

Young Geologist

For Students 9th - 10th
Pick from among twelve fossils to learn more about what kind of animal they were and how long ago they lived.
Lesson Plan
Climate Literacy

Clean: A Fossil Thermometer

For Teachers 9th - 10th
For this activity, students calculate temperatures during a time in the geologic record when rapid warming occurred using a well known method called 'leaf-margin analysis.' Students determine the percentage of the species that have...
Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Biology: History of Life

For Students 9th - 10th
[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.
Website
Other

University of California Museum of Paleontology: Paleontology Portal

For Students 9th - 10th
Portal of the University of California Museum of Paleontology provides access to the museum's extensive research resources and fossil holdings. Includes career preparation advice for future paleontologists and a series of links to...
Interactive
Other

Illinois State Museum: Mazon Creek Collection Database

For Students 9th - 10th
Mazon Creek fossils are named for the collecting area in northeastern Illinois where many of the best specimens are found. They are an important source of information about the plants and animals that inhabited this part of North America...
Handout
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Riddle of the Bones

For Students 9th - 10th
At the online companion Web site of "Evolution," the seven-episode series on PBS, piece together clues to how one of our early ancestors looked as you examine images from four significant fossil finds of Australopithecus afarensis.
Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of Natural History: Paleobiology: Paleo Art

For Students 9th - 10th
Collection of art demonstrates a branch of scientific illustration that specializes in drawing fossils and other paleontological subject matter. Includes information on providing proper care for historical paleo art and offers methods of...
Whiteboard
ClassFlow

Class Flow: Fossil Formation

For Teachers 6th - 8th
[Free Registration/Login Required] A flipchart recording the process of fossilization using a marine vertebrate, an ichthyosaur as an example. Not highly, interactive, but there is a flow chart for students to complete.

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