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ParkWise
> Teachers >
Nature >
Fossils > Unit Outline
Activity
6
Fossils Hunting in Alaska
Students learn how to decide where to look for fossils.
Activity available in PDF format
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Unit:
Fossils in Time
Guiding Questions:
Where might fossils
be?
Critical Content:
Fossils are imbedded
in rocks. Geologic maps show the different types of
rocks and where they are.
Grades: 4-8
Duration:
60
minutes
Group size:
individuals or in
groups of 2 or 3
Setting: classroom
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Background:
Fossils are
usually found in sedimentary rocks. These are the types of rocks
that are created when sand, mud, silt, volcanic ash, or lime is
deposited on the bottom of streams, lakes and oceans. These
deposits cover up plants and animals on the bottom and eventually
are turned to stone. Paleontologists look for fossils in areas
where sedimentary rock from the ancient past has been exposed. This
activity uses a map of sedimentary rocks of Alaska to help you plan
where you might look for fossils in Alaska if you were coming for a
dig.
Materials:
Geologic
Time Scale
Map of sedimentary rocks and national parks of Alaska
Fossils in Alaska National Parks
Students should use additional resources
including the Internet for their research
Paper and pencils
Vocabulary:
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Geologic time
Fossil
Sedimentary rock
Silt
Lime
Paleozoic Era
Mesozoic Era
Cenozoic Era
Triassic Period
Jurassic Period
Cretaceous Period
Procedures:
1. Students
may work individually or in small groups. Give a copy of the
attached map of geologic sediments and national park boundaries to
each student or group.
2. Students
use the map to decide which parks they would look in for fossils
from each of the three eras: Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic. What
types of plants and animals lived during these periods?
3. Each
student or group selects a dinosaur to research. Students should
determine how many millions of years ago the dinosaur lived and
which geologic period this was (Triassic, Jurassic, Cretaceous).
4. Students
use the map key to determine how that time period is shown on the
map. Students
highlight on the map where in the national parks of Alaska they
would visit to look for fossils from this dinosaur.
5. As
a class, review the Discussion Questions.
Discussion
Questions:
1.
During which geologic time period
did most students’ dinosaurs live?
2.
Which national parks of Alaska did
students select for their fossil hunt?
3.
If students had been told to select
an extinct prehistoric mammal, which geologic era would be
most likely to contain those fossils? Which national parks in
Alaska have sedimentary rocks from that geologic era? Which
national parks in Alaska have sedimentary rocks from both the “Age
of the Ruling Reptiles” and the “Age of Mammals"?
4.
Where else in Alaska might
paleontologists look for fossils from the Jurassic and Cretaceous
periods?
5. Review
Fossils in Alaska National Parks
and discuss what next for studying fossils in Alaska.
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