Fossils

Topic: Analyzing and Interpreting Fossils to Describe Types of Organisms and Their Environments that Existed Long Ago

Objectives & Outcomes

• Students will be able to identify and describe the characteristics of different types of fossils, including their shape, size, and texture.
• Students will be able to analyze and interpret the date from fossils to describe the types of organisms and their environments that existed long ago.
• Students will be able to recognize that most kinds of animals and plants that once lived on Earth are now extinct.

Materials

• Fossil specimens (e.g. shells, bones, teeth)
• Handouts with pictures and descriptions of different types of fossils
• Calculator
• Timeline poster or timeline cards
• Pen or pencil

Warm-Up

• Have students complete a "Fossil Matching" activity. Give each student a set of cards with pictures of different fossils on them. Have them match the fossils to their descriptions on a separate sheet of paper. For example, a card might have a picture of a shark tooth and the description "a tooth of a marine predator, fossilized remains of an animal that lived long ago.

Direct Instruction

• Explain that fossils are the preserved remains of animals and plants that lived long ago.
• Show the students the different types of fossils that will be used in the activity.
• Discuss the characteristics of each type of fossil and how it can be used to identify and date the organisms it came from.
• Explain the process of fossilization and how it can occur.
• Introduce the concept of extinction and its implications for understanding the history of life on Earth.

Guided Practice

• Divide the students into small groups and give each group a set of fossils.
• Have the students use the tools provided to carefully excavate the fossils and examine their overall shape and characteristics.
• Have the students use their knowledge of the characteristics of each type of fossil to identify the organism it came from and approximate its age.
• Have the students use their calculators to calculate the age of the fossil in millions of years (given the approximate age and type of fossil).
• Have the students compare their calculated age with the known age of the Earth to understand how scientists calculate the ages of fossils.
• Have the students use their knowledge of the characteristics of each type of fossil to make predictions about the environment in which the organism lived.
• Have the students compare their predictions with what they know about the environments of living organisms to understand how studying fossils can provide insight into the environments in which ancient organisms lived.Guided Practice
• Have the students work in pairs to compare and contrast the characteristics of the fossils they excavated.
• Have the students use their knowledge of the characteristics of each type of fossil and their interpretation of the environment in which the organism lived to explain why the organism had the characteristics it did.
• Have the students make a chart with three to five rows and three to five columns that compares and contrasts the characteristics of the different fossils they excavated.

Independent Practice

• Have the students work individually or in small groups to research and create a presentation on a specific type of fossil.
• Have the students use their knowledge of the characteristics of each type of fossil and their interpretation of the environment in which the organism lived to explain why the organism had the characteristics it did.
• Have the students share their presentations with the class.

Closure

• Review the main points of the lesson, including the different types of fossils and the interpretation of the environment in which the organism lived.
• Remind the students that most kinds of animals and plants that once lived on Earth are now extinct.
• Ask the students what they think the reasons are for this.

Assessment

• Observe the students during independent practice to make sure they are correctly identifying and classifying fossils.
• Collect and review the students' fossils to assess their understanding of the identification and classification of fossils.
• Administer a quiz at a later date to assess the students' retention of the material covered in the lesson.