Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making Sedimentary Rocks

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students make models of sedimentary rock layers to explain how rocks form layers and represent ancient environments. Layers of sediment and fossils are added together to simulate the environment and connections to sedimentary rocks are...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Science Works: Fossil Record - Televised Debate

For Teachers 10th - 11th
Students compare the three theories used tp interpret fossil records. In this earth science instructional activity, students create a production of a televised debate. They collaborate with group members to generate relevant questions...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rock Sorting Activity

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Pupils organize rock samples according to their properties. In this earth science lesson, students predict whether they are igneous, metamorphic or sedimentary. They compare their prediction with the actual type.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fossil Footsteps

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders create their own dinosaur tracks using clay. In addition, 4th graders compose a story about the dinosaur / animal who created the tracks. They study photographs of dinosaur tracks before beginning.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mineral Replacement in Fossil Formation

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore fossils and how they are formed. They create their own "fossils" out of plaster of Paris. They record their findings in their science journals.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth's History

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders investigate how fossils are formed. They analyze a photo of the Grand Canyon, and create a fossil cast and mold using plaster of paris and shells.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fossil Impressions of Ancient Life

For Teachers K - 6th
Students make a mold using Plaster of Paris and then make a cast using that same mold. They pick a fossil and describe how it looks. They write a fictionalized story about its life, or burial. (