THIS LESSON WAS REVISED ON JULY 1, 2019.
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DISCUSS:
What do you think this came from?
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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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DISCUSS:
Do you think habitats have changed in other parts of the world besides Illinois? How could you find out?
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You've completed the Exploration & Activity!
If you have more time, view the assessment, reading, and extension activity in the extensions.
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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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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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| Exploration | 10 min |
| Hands-On Activity | 30 min |
| Wrap-Up | 10 min |
| Grade | 3rd |
| Topic | Animal Survival & Heredity |
| Focus | Habitats, Fossils, & Environments Over Time |
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Glue Sticks
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30 glue sticks |
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Scissors
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30 pairs |
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Dot Stickers
We prefer stickers because they are easier to distribute in a classroom.
Tape will also work.
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Details
90 stickers
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| Fossil Dig printout | Print 30 copies |
| Fossil Dig Answer Key printout | Print 1 copy |
| Fossil Dig Questions printout | Print 30 copies |
| Mystery Fossils printout | Print 15 copies |
We suggest students work in pairs. Homeschool students can work on their own.
Mystery Fossils will print two per page so you may want to cut each page in half before class. Each student needs a ½ sheet for the activity.
| Grade | 3rd |
| Topic | Animal Survival & Heredity |
| Focus | Habitats, Fossils, & Environments Over Time |
After you complete the lesson and activity, try this extension.
A Whale of a Find tells of the discovery of many whale skeletons in a South American desert.
This summative assessment is a combination of short response and fill-in-the-blank questions intended to be administered at the end of this unit. It should take about 25 minutes for a student to complete.
View unit assessmentFor distance learning, assign Google Form versions of lesson and unit assessments.
View Google Form assessmentsAfter you complete the lesson and activity, try this extension.
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.
After you complete the lesson and activity, try this extension.
Meet some paleontologists and watch as they unearth and transport fossils.
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)
Please follow these steps:
