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Lesson Plan
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Science 4 Inquiry

Layers and Laws: The Law of Superposition and Index Fossils

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
What can layers of rock teach us about the climate? Young scientists solve a mystery about who stole a cookie by applying the law of superposition. Then, they apply the same concept to solve a more difficult mystery, trying to determine...
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Lesson Plan
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Channel Islands Film

Island Rotation: Lesson Plan 3

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
How far have California's Channel islands moved? What was the rate of this movement? Class members first examine data that shows the age of the Hawaiian island chain and the average speed of the Pacific Plate. They then watch West of the...
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Activity
K-State Research and Extensions

Field Trip Preparations

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Scholars prepare for a field trip to collect rock specimens. They learn how to build proper display boxes, create road logs, and study various geology careers. This is the final chapter in a seven-chapter unit on geology and contains six...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Old Is Illinois?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers use fossils found in rocks to determine the age of the strata between Rock Island and Chicago. Pupils pretend they are geologists. They must determine the age of all rock layers between the Mississippi River and Lake...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Regents High School Examination: Physical Setting Earth Science 2008

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Throughout this earth science exam, high-school geologists complete a series of multiple choice and short answer questions about the solar system, atmosphere, and earth system. This is an amazing test, as are all of the exams developed...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fossil Kit I - Lesson Plan

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Here is a 14-page lesson plan that deftly outlines a wonderful educational experience for your youngsters. In it, students learn about a variety of animals that have left behind clues of their existence in fossil form. Many excellent...
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Writing
Curated OER

Guess Who Came to Dinner!

For Students 9th - Higher Ed
An exceptionally creative approach is taken to assessing your biologists' grasp of natural selection concepts. They are to imagine hosting Charles Darwin for dinner and having, to their surpise, a few other noted scientists crash the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Archeologists For a Day

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students listen to a reading about fossils and go on a hunt for items with fossil characteristics.  In this cross curricular fossil lesson, students will examine their fossil finds and create a graphic organizer.  Students listen to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fossils and Lithologic Units

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Practicing paleontologists map the geologic time scale, simulate the formation of sedimentary rock, and analyze fossil data. Instructions for four activities and five assessment choices are provided for the teacher. This comprehensive...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Evolution and the Fossil Record

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Engage young biologists with four laboratory activities that explore the fossil record. Learners examine fossil images, a fossil kit, the rock record, and geologic time scale. They even experiment with the oxygen production of an Elodea...
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Interactive1:12
American Museum of Natural History

Living Large

For Students 6th - 12th
Get to know all about sauropods from a paleontologist, Jonah. Following an introductory video, scholars choose from five fossils to learn more about. Each fossil begins with a video, provides information from several different...
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Activity
American Museum of Natural History

Mesozoic Museum

For Students 6th - 12th
Mini museum curators create an exhibit that showcases the Mesozoic era. Pupils use their knowledge of dinosaurs to make informative posters, drawings, and dioramas. Following three steps to complete the hands-on activity, scholars read...
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Interactive
American Museum of Natural History

The Pre-History Proudly Presents: Face-To-Fossil

For Students 6th - 12th
An engaging interview allows scholars to get to know Proto Andy, a protoceratops fossil. Following along with the transcript, learners delve into six questions, including how he became a fossil, what he was like when he was alive, and...
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Website
American Museum of Natural History

Paleontology Books

For Students 6th - 12th
A list of 11 books about paleontology offers titles, authors, and a brief description of the tale.
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Interactive
American Museum of Natural History

Fossils

For Students 6th - 12th
Sixteen slides showcase an average day on the job for a paleontologist, Ross MacPhee. Engaging images include world maps and real-world photographs from an archeological dig in Antarctica. A brief description accompanies each slide.
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Activity
American Museum of Natural History

Finding Fossils

For Students 6th - 12th
How does one go about finding fossils? Find out with an informative webpage that looks at the digging process, showcases rocks and common fossils, helpful tips, and a list of archeological do's and don'ts. 
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Interactive
American Museum of Natural History

Talk to a Titanosaur

For Students 6th - 12th
Learn all about the Titanosaur with an engaging website that delves deep into the large reptile's physical traits, family history, discovery, and fossil reconstruction.
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Website
American Museum of Natural History

Ask a Scientist About Our Environment

For Students 6th - 12th
Let's ask an expert!  Scientists at the American Museum of Natural History field questions about the environment in an interactive resource. Question topics range from global warming and conservation to endangered species and habitats.
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Website
American Museum of Natural History

Ask a Scientist About Dinosaurs

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
Who doesn't want to know more about the mysterious dinosaurs? Learners read about dinosaurs and the process scientists use to continue learning more about the animals in an interview-type format. A paleontologist responds to submitted...
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Interactive
American Museum of Natural History

Fighting Dinos

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
A famous fossil of fighting dinosaurs holds as many questions as answers. Scholars first analyze the fossil itself by virtually highlighting the specific bones of the dinosaurs and read about their function and importance. They then test...
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Interactive
American Museum of Natural History

Race to the South Pole

For Students 6th - 12th
Antarctica was the last continent humans explored. Explore how two teams raced to be the first using an interactive online lesson. Users learn about the climate challenges and how the teams sought to overcome them. The resource is...
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Interactive
American Museum of Natural History

Anatomy Adventure

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
Sometimes science is puzzling. Using an online animation, individuals manipulate skeletal bones of an ancient species to recreate its skeleton. Learners complete the skeletal puzzle and learn about the process of paleontology in person...
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Activity
American Museum of Natural History

Buried Bones

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
Patience is the name of the game. Using Plaster of Paris and chicken bones, learners simulate an archeological dig site. They excavate the chicken bones over a period of several days using tools and a large amount of patience.
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Website
American Museum of Natural History

What is Earth?

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
Humans have only inhabited Earth for a short part of its existence. An online resource explains how scientists use clues from rocks and fossils to piece together information about Earth prior to humans. The online instruction includes...