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Interactive
American Museum of Natural History

Layer of Time

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
Dig through the layers for a better understanding of fossils. Scholars learn that fossils form in layers of sedimentary rock. Pupils arrange virtual layers to show the fossil record of different species. Once the layers are correct, they...
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Lesson Plan
Virginia Department of Education

Evidence of Evolution

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
What an impression fossils make! In this activity, aspiring paleontologists view fossils and construct a timeline to further understand how the lack of natural adaptation caused historical organisms to become extinct. While they should...
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Unit Plan
Columbus City Schools

Diversity of Living Things

For Teachers 8th Standards
Here's a topic classes can really dig—the fossil record. Use the well-organized and thoughtful road map to take eighth graders back in time to unearth the answer. Learn how our climate has changed, and how organisms have changed along...
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Website
American Museum of Natural History

What's the Big Deal About Paleontology?

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
Paleontologists could be considered detectives of the past. A quick online lesson describes the science of paleontology and the importance of fossils. Young scientists read about how paleontologists analyze the features of fossils to...
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Website
American Museum of Natural History

Climate Change

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
It actually is possible to have too much of a good thing when it comes to climate change. A slide show lesson describes how burning fossil fuels contributes to climate change. Individuals read about the scientific process and the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fossil Hunt

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners ask questions about the nature of science as they experience a 'Fossil Hunt'. They reconstruct a book that has been literally destroyed, just as the fossil record has been changed by billions of years of geological processes.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Investigation 3 - Examining Your Fossil

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders examine the fossils they made previously. They examine the details of the fossil with a hand lens and come up with conclusions about the fossils. They record what they see and draw conclusions about the environment of the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Determining the Age of Fossils

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the concept of radioactive dating. In this radioactive dating lesson, students investigate how to determine the ages of fossils and rocks as they learn about half-life radioactive decay.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fabulous Fossils

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders investigate how fossils are formed and discuss how scientists determine the appearance of ancient plants and animals. They make fossils of everyday objects for others to identify. They make spreadsheets to display fossil...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fossils: The Eras of the Earth's History

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students research the four geologic eras of Earth's history. For this extension on a fossils lesson, students research the different eras of Earth's history. Students use AppleWorks to create a bar graph containing information of the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fossil Fuels vs. Alternative Fueling Systems

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders brainstorm the differences between the fossil fuels that people use in their transportation now and what they could use to minimize greenhouse gas emissions. They use a variety of techniques from webquests to writing...
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Activity
It's About Time

The Fossil Record

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
What do you call a plated dinosaur when he is asleep? A stego-snorus! Through four hands-on activities, young paleontologists rotate through stattions to learn about preservation in rock, resin, ice, and conservation of animal tracks....
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Organizer
Curated OER

What Do Fossils Reveal?

For Students 3rd - 8th
In this fossils worksheet, students will write down 4 facts that they know about fossils and then come up with 1 conclusion about fossils based on their facts. This worksheet is a graphic organizer.
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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

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

Regents High School Examination: Living Environment 2010

For Teachers 9th - 12th
This exam touches upon every topic within the typical first year biology course.. A broad variety of question styles give high schoolers every opportunity to show what they know. Why start from scratch when a comprehensive final exam is...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Did Humans Evolve?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students are introduced to four important fossil finds: the First Family, the Hadar Skull, Lucy, and the Laetoli Footprints. They explore how scientists interpret fossils to try to better comprehend how humans evolved. This activity...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Global Warming: Life in a Greenhouse

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Students investigate the evidence and consequences of global warming. They read and discuss an article, conduct a debate, evaluate their community's climate statistics, log their gas consumption for a week, and develop a panel discussion...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dinosaurs In Argentina

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students study the fossils in Argentina and why it is a good place to find them.  In this dinosaurs lesson students learn about the recent dinosaur excavations. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Climate Change & Coral Activities

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Learners study how the ocean stabilizes our planet's climates and how global warming is becoming a threat to this fine balance.  In this climate change lesson, students identify that fossil fuel emissions are responsible for global...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Geologic History PowerPoint Follow Sheet-The Rules of the Game

For Students 8th - 10th
In this geologic history worksheet, learners answer questions about the earth's history, about dating fossils, about layers of rocks and about unconformity.
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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 lesson, students create a production of a televised debate. They collaborate with group members to generate relevant questions about the topic.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Fossil Record

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars research about the animals found in Burgess Shale. In this earth science instructional activity, students evaluate the significance of fossils in human history. They create models of their chosen animal.
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Lesson Plan
Virginia Department of Education

Adaptation and Evolution

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Um may be the atomic symbol for confusion, but it won't be needed in this instructional activity. Scholars rotate through seven stations completing experiments, hands-on activities, writing exercises, and analysis. Stations include...