Fossil Fun: Digging Into Earth's Past!

9th Grade Lesson 40 minutes

Fossil Fun: Digging Into Earth's Past!

Natalie G

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Purpose

The purpose of this learning experience is to immerse students in the fascinating world of fossils and paleontology in a concise yet impactful manner. Through a hands-on field trip or virtual exploration, students will witness fossil excavation and geological formations, gaining real-time insights into how fossils are formed. By collaboratively creating models and participating in peer reviews, students will refine their understanding of the processes involved, fostering critical thinking and collaboration within a shortened timeframe.

Learning goals

Students will gain an understanding of the fossilization process and fossil exposure through real-world geological activities and interactions, including a guided field trip or virtual exploration. They will develop models to showcase fossil formation and refine their work through peer critiques. By examining paleontological evidence and linking it to previous climates, they will comprehensively answer the essential question: "What are fossils and how are they formed?" Within the shortened timeframe, students should focus on constructing and critically assessing models while drawing informed conclusions.

Products

To ensure the lesson fits within a 60-minute session, students will collaboratively create simplified models of fossil formation using easy-to-access materials like clay or playdough to show the stages briefly. Each group will craft a model representing key aspects of fossilization, such as hard body parts and sediment burial, focusing on essential elements. The models will be presented in a gallery walk format, allowing quick sharing and peer feedback to refine their understanding, culminating in concise presentations to classmates.

Launch

Begin the class by inviting students to collaborate in small teams to explore a digital simulation provided by the U.S. Geological Survey. Each team will take on the role of paleontologists tasked with identifying different fossils from a virtual dig site. As they discover fossils, prompt them to discuss the environmental conditions that likely contributed to the formation of each fossil, using their observations to predict the site’s age and history. This engaging activity will prime them for the day's deeper exploration into fossil formation within the remaining class time.

Exhibition

Students will exhibit their fossil formation models in a gallery setting within the classroom. Each group will prepare short presentations explaining their model's key features and the steps involved in the fossilization process. In this condensed format, students will have quick Q&A sessions with peers, promoting rapid-fire learning and exchange. The exhibition will conclude with peer reviews for immediate feedback, allowing groups to refine their models collaboratively.

Learning Journey

Question

Students will formulate and refine investigable questions about fossilization processes to guide their exploration and model creation during the learning journey, using insights from a local paleontological site or U.S. Geological Survey resources for context.

Milestone Activities

Fossil Clue Encounter

Launch 25m

Students explore a digital fossil excavation simulation, identify fossil types, and discuss what each clue reveals about fossilization, using insights from USGS resources. In small groups, they record initial questions and curiosities to guide their learning.

Design

Students will collaboratively plan a systematic approach to investigate fossil formation by organizing specific tasks for data collection, selecting appropriate tools, and considering potential challenges during a virtual exploration of paleontological evidence.

Milestone Activities

Survey Fossil Literature

Deliverable 20m

In small groups, students locate and annotate at least five credible sources on fossil formation, summarize current knowledge, compare perspectives, assess source quality, and identify gaps or questions in the existing understanding.

Collect

Students will collect data by visiting a local paleontological site or participating in a virtual exploration to observe and document fossil formations and geological features, taking notes and capturing images to support their understanding of fossilization processes.

Milestone Activities

Collect Fossil Data Logs

Deliverable 20m

In pairs, students explore a local paleontological site or engage in a guided virtual fossil exploration to observe fossil features and collect data. They build raw data tables, write field notes, take photographs, and capture any interview or expert notes when available. All outputs are organized in a shared digital notebook and prepared for data-quality checks and methodological review to support the Fossil Data Methods Quiz.

Analyze

Students will interpret data from their guided field trip or virtual exploration, recognizing fossilization patterns, and discuss findings within their small groups to identify common themes and insights.

Milestone Activities

Fossil Data Analysis

Deliverable 20m

In small groups, students analyze fossilization data collected during the guided field trip or virtual exploration. They create simple visualizations (graphs or tables) to reveal patterns in fossil types, burial contexts, and preservation conditions, and identify any anomalies. Students relate findings to the guiding question, discuss data limitations, and note how environmental factors influence fossil formation.

Conclude

Students will present and discuss their fossil formation models while considering peer feedback to refine their explanations, concluding with a reflection on the processes and limitations of fossil formation they observed during the field trip or virtual exploration.

Milestone Activities

Fossil Formation Showcase

Assessment 20m

Groups present their fossil formation models to an authentic audience (class, teacher, and invited community partners). They explain each stage of fossilization represented by their model, connect decisions to observations from the field trip or virtual exploration, and defend their reasoning with evidence. The session includes a brief Q&A and a reflective component addressing model limitations and what the evidence suggests about paleontological processes.

Plan

Activities	Fossil Clue Encounter Launch 25m Survey Fossil Literature Deliverable 20m Collect Fossil Data Logs Deliverable 20m Fossil Data Analysis Deliverable 20m Fossil Formation Showcase Assessment 20m
Preparation