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.

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.

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.

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.

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.