Curated OER
Dig It!
Second graders complete various activities about dinosaurs and fossils. They conduct Internet research, participate in a sandbox dinosaur fossil dig, and create a computer slideshow presentation using information they found on various...
Curated OER
It's All in the Rocks
Students think critically to determine fact or inference when examining sedimentary layers with embedded fossils. They are being introduced to geology as well as evolutionary biology.
Curated OER
Studying Fossils
Students compare and contrast key skeletal differences between chimpanzees and humans: brain size, teeth, hand and thumb, trunk, pelvis, lower limb, foot and big toe. They then sort and group a set of mixed "fossil bones" of chimpanzee...
Curated OER
Dino Traces
Students are introduced to the type of evidence that is found at a typical dinosaur dig. They create rubbing casts of bone impressions on paper and, using bones, identify dinosaurs.
Curated OER
Be a Paleontologist
Students search for fossils in a simulated archeology site and explore how paleontologists mark out a dig site.
Curated OER
Digging Into Science Lesson Plans
In this biology worksheet, students identify and write the various species that are still present today. Then they define evolution using three words. Students also describe what a fossil is and give some examples related to a particular...
Curated OER
Archeological Finds
Students explore archeology and it contributions to human history. They write a magazine article describing the discovery of a dig.
American Museum of Natural History
Talk to a Titanosaur
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.
Curated OER
Becoming Whales: Experiencing Discoveries of
Learners experience, through a "dig," the historical discovery of fossils which increasingly link whales to earlier land-dwelling mammals. They encounter the intermediate forms which show changes that lead to the modern whale.
Curated OER
No bones About It -A Mosasaur
Students model a paleontologist's activities. They identify dinosaur bones and reassemble them into a skeleton of an extinct reptile.
Curated OER
Comparing Fossils
Young scholars explore early hominid evolution as they analyze bones that share characteristics of both apes and humans. Students compare and contrast key skeletal differences between chimpanzees and humans. In groups, they sort and...
Curated OER
A Basin Filled With Time
Young scholars use fossil leaves and a mathematical formula to study climate change. In this climate change and fossil lesson plan, students determine the differences in temperatures during two different times during the Cenozoic era...
Curated OER
Identifying Fossils
Students create model fossils. In this fossils lesson, students view pictures of fossils and compare and contrast these fossils. Students read about fossils and create a database chart with the facts they learn. ...
Curated OER
It's All In The Rocks
Middle schoolers think critically to determine fact or inference when examining sedimentary layers with embedded fossils. Geology and evolutionary biology are introduced. They individually write a story about various diagrams and share...
Curated OER
Dinosaur I Finding And Dating
Students investigate how long dinosaurs lived on Earth and how that compare to how long man has been on Earth. They discover how scientists excavate fossils.
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Learning Lab: Digging Up Dirt: How Paleontologists Bring Dinosaurs Back to Life
Teachers can download this teaching package that introduces students to the science of paleontology. Fossil formulation and details about the work of paleontologists are discussed. Find out how paleontologists discover, stabilize, and...
American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History: Ology: Paleontology: The Big Dig
A collection of online games, virtual puzzles, experiments, and interviews with experts to immerse students into the world of paleontology.
American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History: O Logy: Paleontology: The Big Dig
On this site, you will learn all about Paleontology, the study of ancient life. It defines paleontology and provides links to games, stories, videos, and hands-on activities.
TVOntario
Tvo Kids: Dino Dig
At this site students play the part of a paleontologist Students must first dig up dinosaur bones using special tools and then reconstruct the dinosaur skeleton back at the lab. Along the way, the students will learn interesting facts...
American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History: Paleont O Logy: The Big Dig
This colorful and inviting resource houses tons of paleontology activities to explore. Play the Layers of Time puzzle game, create your own make-believe dig site by burying chicken bones in plaster of Paris, learn how to draw dinosaurs,...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: We Can Dig It!
In this activity, third grade young scholars will explore "fossils" by using chocolate chip cookies in an interactive fossil dig! Through creative problem-based learning that incorporates technology, students will work in collaborative...
Children's Discovery Museum
Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose: Mammoth Discovery: Meet Lupe
Meet Lupe, a young mammoth who lived during the Ice Age, and learn all about her existence during that time period. Take a virtual trip to the actual mammoth dig site in San Jose and see what the scientists discovered.
Government of Alberta
Learn Alberta: Math Interactives: Exploring Laws of Exponents
This interactive Learn Alberta math resource offers a hands-on exploration of the laws of exponents within the context of a paleontological dig. Be sure to follow the links to the printable exercises, solutions, and learning strategies.
University of California
University of California Museum of Paleontology: Fossil Evidence
Understanding Evolution provides evidence for evolution using fossils. There are also links to lesson plans.