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Where can you find whales in a desert?
Animals Through Time Unit | Lesson 1 of 3

Where can you find whales in a desert?

Animals Through Time Unit | Lesson 1 of 3
Lesson narration:
Scroll for prep
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DISCUSS:

What do you think this belongs to?

mystery-fossil
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DISCUSS:

So far, Doug has found fossil seashells and a fossil shark tooth. What other fossils do you think Doug would find in the quarry?

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Step
01/16
Find a partner.
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Step
02/16
Get these supplies. You’ll get more later.
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Step
03/16
Write your name on this Fossil Dig sheet. Cut along the 2 dotted lines
until you reach the stop signs.
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04/16
Put the page with your name in it on top of the other page. Then fold
stickers over both pages near the arrows.
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05/16
Open the top layer, Layer A, of your fossil dig. Examine the fossils
that you find in this layer.
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06/16
Look at the traits of each fossil. Then fill in question #1 on your
worksheet and discuss with your partner.
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Discuss. Then fill in question #2 on your worksheet.
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Step
08/16
Open Layer B of your fossil dig. Examine the fossils that you find in
this layer.
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09/16
Fill in question #3 on your worksheet and discuss with your partner.
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Discuss. Then fill in question #4 on your worksheet.
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11/16
Get the rest of your supplies.
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12/16
Cut out your Mystery Fossils.
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Observe the traits of your Mystery Fossils. Sort them into two piles.
It’s ok if it’s hard to tell where some belong.
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Place them into their fossil layer. Then glue them in.
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Discuss these questions.
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Step
16/16
Discuss these questions. Then watch the next video.
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DISCUSS:

Do you think habitats have changed in other parts of the world besides Illinois? How could you find out?

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# Extensions
Below are ideas for extending this topic beyond the Exploration and Activity you just completed.
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# Activity: Fossil Formation

This website from the Kentucky Geological Survey includes several hands-on activities that demonstrate how different types of fossils form. It includes a variation on the classic plaster and mold activity using white glue instead.

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# Video
  • In this video, paleontologists in Argentina discover and transport fossils to a museum for further study. (4:19, PBS)

  • Meet Mark Rentz, a paleontologist who studies fossils in Florida. Watch this video to see him talk about finding shark and whale teeth in a Florida creek. (3:13, WGCU Curious Kids)

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Lesson narration:

Grade 3

Fossils & Changing Environments

Habitats, Fossils, & Environments Over Time

3-LS4-1

Activity Prep

Print Prep

THIS LESSON WAS REVISED ON JULY 1, 2019. Here is a link to the previous version.
In this lesson, students explore the idea that the rock under our feet sometimes contains fossils, and investigate how these fossils reveal changes in habitat through time. In the activity, Fossil Dig, students use paper to create a model fossil dig. They identify traits of fossils to determine what the habitat looked like when these organisms were alive. Then they use this information to figure out where some Mystery Fossils belong in their fossil dig.

Preview activity

Exploration

10 mins

Wrap-Up

10 mins

Grade 3

Fossils & Changing Environments

Habitats, Fossils, & Environments Over Time

3-LS4-1

Extend this lesson

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