Fossils in the Making

What constitutes a fossil and how do they form from prehistoric organisms? Through this lesson, students will be able to define foundational terms such as paleontologist, fossilization, and rock formation to build on the understanding of how an entire species of an organism can go extinct and be preserved as fossils. This project can be implemented in one 45-60 minute class period. It was developed for third-fifth (3rd-5th) grade students and was written by Sadie Mills, Sam Ocon, and Mary Jane Hughes.

Video (FOSSIL Project channel; 5 minutes): https://youtu.be/UpdcpOlwCGU

Lesson Plan: myFOSSIL-Education-Series-Lesson-Plan-K-5

TOPICS/THEMES

Identification, Fossils, Paleontology, Paleoenvironment, Paleoclimate, Environment, Climate, Scientific Evidence

• To engage and teach students the primary understanding of how fossils form through comprehension of rock layers and evolutionary theory.
• Develop the foundation for how paleontologists discover species that lived thousands to millions of years ago.

STANDARDS

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

3-LS4-1 Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity

• 3-LS4 – 1. – Analyze and interpret data from fossils to provide evidence of the organisms and the environments in which they lived long ago.

4-ESS1-1 Earth’s Place in the Universe

• 4-ESS1 – 1. – Identify evidence from patterns in rock formations and fossils in rock layers to support an explanation for changes in a landscape over time.

ELA Common Core State Standards

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.2

Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.

• W.3.2. A – Introduce a topic and group related information together; include illustrations when useful to aiding comprehension.
• W.3.2. B – Develop the topic with facts, definitions, and details.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.3

Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.

• W.3.3. A – Establish a situation and introduce a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally.
• W.3.3. B – Use dialogue and descriptions of actions, thoughts, and feelings to develop experiences and events or show the response of characters to situations.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.2

Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.

• W.4.2. A – Introduce a topic clearly and group related information in paragraphs and sections; include formatting (e.g., headings), illustrations, and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension.
• W.4.2. B – Develop the topic with facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples related to the topic.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.3

Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.

• W.4.3. A – Orient the reader by establishing a situation and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally.
• W.4.3. B – Use dialogue and description to develop experiences and events or show the responses of characters to situations.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.2

Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.

• W.5.2. A – Introduce a topic clearly, provide a general observation and focus, and group related information logically; include formatting (e.g., headings), illustrations, and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension.
• W.5.2. B – Develop the topic with facts, definitions, concrete details,  quotations, or other information and examples related to the topic.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.3

Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.

• W.5.3. A – Orient the reader by establishing a situation and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally.
• W.5.3. B – Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, description, and pacing, to develop experiences and events or show the responses of characters to situations.