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.
![Indiana University Bloomington: Identifying 3 D Fossil Prints [Pdf] Lesson Plan](https://d15y2dacu3jp90.cloudfront.net/images/attachment_defaults/resource/large/FPO-knovation.png "Indiana University Bloomington: Identifying 3 D Fossil Prints [Pdf] Lesson Plan")
Indiana University
Indiana University Bloomington: Identifying 3 D Fossil Prints [Pdf]
In this lesson, students will identify three-dimensional (3-D) prints of common Indiana fossils to the kingdom, phylum, or class level. Students will observe and record the morphology of specimens and classify organisms based on their...
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: How Fossilization Creates Fossils
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Describes the conditions necessary for fossilization.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: How Fossilization Creates Fossils
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Describes the conditions necessary for fossilization.
University of California
Ucmp: Learning From the Fossil Record
Fossils provide scientists with clues about Earth's past. This site from the University of California's Museum of Paleontology is great for exploring lots of information on fossils.
American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History: O Logy: Stuff to Do: Finding Fossils
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...
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.
University of California
Ucmp: Explorations Through Time: Getting Into the Fossil Record
This interactive activity is part of a series of modules that investigate the history of life on Earth. Students will understand the basics of fossils and how they form after completing this activity. Teacher guide and lesson plans...
Other
Fossil Museum: Geologic Time
Pictures of fossils are arranged in chronological sequence and by geologic period. Pictures include scientific names and location where the fossils were found.
Other
Fossil Image Gallery
Images of fossils are listed by taxon. Fossils are also listed by location and geologic era.
The Wonder of Science
The Wonder of Science:ms Ls4 1: Fossil Evidence of Common Ancestry and Diversity
Students analyze and interpret data for patterns in the fossil record that document the existence, diversity, extinction, and change of life forms throughout the history of life on earth under the assumption that natural laws operate...
Other
Tree of Life for the Fossil Record
This tree of life is presented in an outline format. The outline is arranged in a hierarchical manner organized from the largest group (domain) to the smallest group (class). This interactive outline includes pictures of fossils and...
Indiana University
Indiana Univ. Bloomington: Reference Documents: Common Fossils of Indiana [Pdf]
A fact card describing five fossils common to Indiana.
Read Works
Read Works: Humanity on the Record
[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.
Climate Literacy
Clean: A Fossil Thermometer
In 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 leaves...
Other
Virtual Fossil Museum: Fossils Across Geological Time and Evolution
Learn about fossils throughout geological time. Includes images of different types of fossils.
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Fossil Formation
[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.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Paleotopia: Windows to the Past
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...
BBC
Bbc: Gcse Bitesize: Evolution Aqa
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...
University of California
Ucmp: Paleoecology
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...
Other
Young Geologist
Pick from among twelve fossils to learn more about what kind of animal they were and how long ago they lived.
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.