Website
American Geosciences Institute

American Geological Institute: Evolution and the Fossil Record

For Students 9th - 10th
The American Geological Institute has done an excellent job of defining and explaining evolution in this online booklet. Darwin, fossils, natural selection, and change over time are some of the concepts that are covered. Make sure to see...
Handout
Other

Black Hills Institute of Geological Research: All About Fossils

For Students 9th - 10th
The Black Hills Institute of Geological Research is a world-renowned center for paleontology. Here they describe in clear language how fossils are formed and preserved, and what information they give us about the past, particularly in...
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Fossil Fondue

For Teachers 9th - 10th
To understand how fossils are formed, students model the process of fossilization by making fossils using small toy figures and melted chocolate. They extend their knowledge to the many ways that engineers aid in the study of fossils,...
Graphic
University of California

Ucmp: Uc Museum of Paleontology/ Fossil Records of Porifera

For Students 9th - 10th
Takes a look at the fossils of sponges, and describes what they mean in terms of evolution.
Unit Plan
University of California

Ucmp: Getting Into the Fossil Record

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A learning module where students tour the fossil record to learn what fossils are, how organisms become fossils, the factors that promote fossilization, how paleontologists find fossils, and why some organisms cannot be fossilized....
Website
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian Learning Lab: Digging Up Dirt: How Paleontologists Bring Dinosaurs Back to Life

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
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...
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Face to Fossil

For Students 4th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This seven-page PDF passage entitled "Face to Fossil" features an interview with ProtoAndy, a fossil of Protoceratops. It is part of a Paired Text with two other texts (see links above passage):...
Article
American Museum of Natural History

American Museum of Natural History: O Logy: What's the Big Idea? Paleontology

For Students 3rd - 8th
Snapshot reference on paleontology explains how the fossil record drives this area of science.
Website
Burke Museum

Burke Museum: Marine Fossils

For Students 9th - 10th
"Marine fossils and their living relatives" is part of a larger site dedicated to the research and collection information of the Burke Museum on Paleontology.
Unknown Type
American Museum of Natural History

American Museum of Natural History: Ology Quiz: What Do You Know? Paleontology

For Students 3rd - 8th
Test your knowledge of paleontology by taking a quick quiz.
Graphic
Burke Museum

Burke Museum: Paleontology

For Students 9th - 10th
This collection of artifacts and information on Paleontology from the Burke Museum includes online exhibits and access to pictures from various collections.
Website
Burke Museum

Burke Museum: Paleontology Collection

For Students 9th - 10th
In addition to further information on the study of Paleontology, this Museum collection site references over 2.75 million specimens of study available. A search key is provided along with detailed information.
Graphic
Other

Valdosta State University: Virtual Museum of Fossils

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource provides an interactive introduction to paleontology. Take a tour, search by animal or time period, and peruse for hot links throughout the museum.
Interactive
American Museum of Natural History

American Museum of Natural History: O Logy: Face to Fossil: Protoceratops

For Students 3rd - 8th
Questions and answers about Protoceratops andrewsi, presented as an "interview" with a museum's fossil. Learn about the dinosaur, the age of the fossil, and how the museum had it transported.
Activity
University of California

University of California Museum of Paleontology: The Arthropod Story

For Students 9th - 10th
A tutorial that explains the evolutionary history of arthropods. Within the history, students can learn about taxonomy, paleontology, fossils, and evolution. Each section includes key questions for students to focus on as they move...
Activity
American Museum of Natural History

American Museum of Natural History: O Logy: Stuff to Do: Finding Fossils

For Students 9th - 10th
Guidelines for investigating fossils in the field include specimen-finding strategies, dos and don'ts, examples of the kinds of fossils you may see, and other helpful information, such as how to record your observations and finds in a...
Website
University of California

Ucmp: Learning From the Fossil Record

For Students 6th - 8th
Fossils provide scientists with clues about Earth's past. This site from the University of California's Museum of Paleontology is great for exploring lots of information on fossils.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

National Park Service: Fossils in Time Unit

For Teachers 5th - 9th
In this lesson, students learn about the earth's past by studying clues that have been left behind, such as fossils and rocks. Students will find the answers to many questions: What is paleontology?, What is geological time?, What can we...
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Anning: An Artistic Look at the "Princess of Paleontology"

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students will practice their observation skills by listening to the story Stone Girl Bone Girl: The Story of Mary Anning. They will discuss what fossils are and how they are formed, then complete an observation drawing of some common...
Interactive
BBC

Bbc: Conditions for Fossil Formation

For Students 9th - 10th
This interactive animation allows you to try different areas to see how suitable they are for fossil formation.
Activity
University of California

Ucmp: Mystery Fossils

For Students 9th - 10th
Each month a new mystery fossil is presented for students to try to identify, giving them a taste of what paleontologists are confronted with in their work.
Website
University of Nebraska

Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historic Park

For Students 9th - 10th
The Ashfall Fossil Beds are located in Nebraska. Much of the research done there is conducted by scientists from the University of Nebraska and the Nebraska State Museum. The history, geology and paleontology of the site are described....
Activity
Other

Starry Skies: How Do Fossils Form?

For Students 9th - 10th
Directions and materials needed to make a modern day fossil.
Article
American Institute of Biological Sciences

Action Bioscience: Accuracy of Fossils and Dating Methods

For Students 9th - 10th
Discover the accuracy of dating methods and fossils because of the scientific approach used.