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Fossils > Unit Outline
Activity 1
Paleontology Crossword Puzzle
Students
complete a crossword puzzle of paleontology vocabulary.
Activity available in PDF format
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Unit:
Fossils in Time
Guiding Questions:
What is
paleontology? How has life evolved on earth?
Critical Content:
Paleontology is the
study of ancient life. There are four major eras
of the earth's history and of life described in the Geologic
Time Scale.
Grades: 3-6
Duration: 15-30
minutes
Group size:
individuals or in
groups of 2
Setting: classroom
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Before
You Begin: Students
should read Introduction
to Paleontology and The
Geologic Time Scale.
If the readings are too difficult for younger students, explain
the material to the class and give them the Geologic Time Scale
as a reference.
Procedures:
Complete the crossword
puzzle belowThe
Paleontology Crossword Puzzle
Across:
4.
When talking about how long ago the dinosaurs lived, we use this
word to describe the numbers of years. It is part of the
abbreviation “mya”
6.
The earliest mammals evolved from
these.
7.
The period of the Mesozoic Era
made famous in a movie about bringing dinosaurs back to life
9.
Evidence of past life
10.
The major unit of geologic
time. There are four of these, including the Precambrian,
Paleozoic, Mesozoic and the Cenozoic.
11.
The study of rocks, including
fossil remains.
13.
The permanent loss of a species. When the species is gone forever
it “goes ______”.
Down:
1.
Also known as the Age of the
Ruling Reptiles.
2.
The group of reptiles that ruled
the land millions of years ago.
3.
These flying animals are still
common today. They evolved from dinosaurs.
5.
Along with the dinosaur and the
pterosaur, this was one of the three Ruling Reptiles. Some species
of this animal still live along waterways in Florida and Africa.
8.
A time when the Earth got very
cold and huge glaciers covered the north.
9.
Evidence left behind where a
dinosaur has walked. A hadrosaur left one of these behind in
Aniakchak National Park
12.
The
parts of dinosaurs most often found as fossils. These help us to
understand what dinosaurs may have looked like.
Discussion
Questions:
- What are some of the things that paleontologists can learn
about the earth's history?
- What are the four major eras of geologic time?
- What are some of the things you most want to learn about
dinosaurs and other prehistoric life?
Answer Key |
