Curated OER
AP: Chapter 25: Phylogeny and Systematics
As a review or note taking guide, this resource wraps up a unit on the tree of life. Biology bigwigs define phylogeny and answer questions about the subsequent classification of organisms. The worksheet takes a straightforward and...
The Brain Scoop
Fossil Sharks
Sharks contain a cartilage skeleton, rather than bone, so they rarely appear in the fossil record. The video explains why we find shark teeth and how scientists use that tiny piece of information to learn about sharks. Then, it presents...
Bozeman Science
Scientific Evidence for Evolution
Humans share about 50% of their genes with a banana. In the video, scholars analyze the scientific evidence for evolution. The instructor spends time discussing Darwin and biogeography, fossils, and homologous structures. Scholars then...
Curated OER
Fossils
In this earth science worksheet, students use the clues given at the bottom of the sheet to solve the crossword puzzle on fossils. They identify specific names of fossils and how to make a mold of one.
The Brain Scoop
Fossil Fish, PT. III: The Preparation
A paleontologist finds a fossil, but then what happens? An engaging video explains what happens to fossils once they make it back to the lab. It then demonstrates three different ways of excavating the fossil from the matrix.
PBS
'Living Fossils' Aren't Really a Thing
Do all species evolve? A timeless video that is part of the "Eons" playlist explains the term living fossils. It presents the species that many believe haven't evolved over millions of years. It goes on to break down each assumption and...
PBS
Can We Get DNA from Fossils?
Just how long can a fossil preserve DNA? It seems that DNA becomes unreadable after about 6.8 million years. Learn about the science that helped make this conclusion and the mistakes made along the way in a lesson from a PBS Eons video...
PBS
The Time Terror Birds Invaded
Like something from a low-budget horror movie, terror birds ruled the roost in South America millions of years ago. Things didn't go as well when they headed north! With an intriguing video, biology scholars explore the massive migration...
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
No Fossils in This Fuel
Yeast and sugar go beyond the pantry and into a fuel experiment. Use these common baking ingredients to assist your class in creating ethanol, a natural fuel. Pupils observe the process and gather information to elaborate...
The Brain Scoop
Fossil Meteorites
Fossils ... from space? Science scholars discover evidence in a limestone quarry that helped researchers learn about a meteor shower that lasted hundreds of thousands of years through an interesting video from Brain Scoop's Fossils and...
PBS
How a Supervolcano Made the Cenozoic’s Coolest Fossils
Volcanoes cause mass extinctions, climate change, and physical alterations of our planet. They also create great fossil records, time markers in layers of Earth, and an interesting way to study geology. A video describes how one...
PBS
A Brief History of Geologic Time
How do scientists know the history of Earth before humans—or any mammals—existed? An epic "Eons" series video explains the larger history of geologic time. It highlights the eons, eras, periods, epochs, and ages scientists use to divide...
PBS
Fossils: Rocking the Earth
Scientists learn about animals and plants living today by understanding the fossil record. A helpful resource includes a brief explanation of the process to help scholars complete the online game. It also mentions the gaps in knowledge...
The Brain Scoop
Starstuff and Nanodiamonds
The Field Museum owns materials older than our sun—can you believe that? An enlightening video displays and discusses some of these. It explains where they come from, how they formed, how they survived this long, and what we know about...
SciShow
Great Minds: Mary Anning, "The Greatest Fossilist in the World"
How would you feel if you made a scientific discovery and weren't recognized because of your gender? Mary Anning basically founded paleontology, but she could never publish her own discoveries. From discovering how to clean fossils and...
Crash Course
The Hydrologic and Carbon Cycles: Always Recycle!
Introduce biogeochemical cycles and goes into detail about the hydrologic and carbon cycles. A scientific video engages learners and teaches them at the same time.
Curated OER
Activity Two: The Classic Fossil Lab-Simple Format
In this fossil learning exercise, students are given a bag of fossils to identify. They use a key and a learning exercise with pictures of the various types of fossils. They answer questions about fossils and use a web site to find out...
PBS
The Great Snake Debate
Snakes are just lizards without legs, right? Scholars study the sensational evolutionary history of the snake with a video from a well-written biology playlist. Topics include snake fossils, theories on snake evolution, and...
TED-Ed
The Ferocious Predatory Dinosaurs of Cretaceous Sahara
What's not to love about dinosaurs? Lucky for us humans, we can love to learn about them from 100 million years away, especially a group of extra large predatory dinosaurs from the Cretaceous period. Watch a descriptive video that...
Be Smart
Tuatara All the Way Down: Face to Face with a Living Fossil!
Change is good ... unless you're a tuatara! Meet Earth's oldest surviving reptile species in a fun video from an extensive science playlist. Content includes why the tuatara did not evolve and its unique anatomy.
Bozeman Science
ESS1C - The History of Planet Earth
Take a trip back in time as the history of the earth is uncovered. An interesting video lesson explains the different methods scientists use to learn about the earth's past. While emphasizing teaching strategies, the lesson instructor...
The Brain Scoop
The First Brachiosaurus
How do scientists know when they've discovered something new? Travel back in time to when dinosaurs roamed the earth using an interesting video, which is part of Brain Scoop's Fossils and Geology playlist. The narrator examines the...
The Brain Scoop
The Origin of Mammal Movement: Harvard Adventures, Part I
It may be difficult for some humans to walk and chew gum at the same time ... but reptiles can't breathe while running at all! Compare the skeletal systems of reptiles and mammals in the first installment of Brain Scoop's fossils and...
PBS
The Last Time the Globe Warmed
Global warming ... greenhouse gases ... climate change ... sounds familiar, right? What about palm trees in Wyoming, or swimming in the sea near Antarctica? Science scholars discover the unbearable conditions Earth experienced during its...