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Guiding
Questions
and
Readings
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Critical
Content (Students will know...)
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National
Standards Met
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Skill
Objectives (Students will be able to...)
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Suggested Activity
Lesson Plans
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What is
paleontology?
What is geologic time?
Background: Alaska Dinosaur Discovery
radio show
Introduction to Paleontology
The Geologic Time Scale |
...
how to define paleontology.
...
the different eras of geologic time.
...
which life forms inhabited the earth during different eras
and periods of the ancient past.
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Science
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...
research facts about fossil remains and life forms.
...read
and understand the geologic time scale.
...organize
and analyze chronological information.
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Activity
1:
Paleontology Crossword Puzzle
Students
review their vocabulary of ancient time.
Activity 2:
When Did They First Appear?
Students research when different organisms
first appeared on earth.
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What can we learn from fossils?
Hadrosaurs |
...how to define evolution,
diversity, adaptation, and extinction.
...role of adaptations for
organisms to survive in different environments.
...how to classify animals based
on adaptive characteristics.
...the characteristics of hadrosaurs and how they are adapted
to their environment. |
Science |
...use adaptations to classify
organisms. ...make
assumptions about organisms and their adaptations based on
the fossil evidence. |
Activity 3: Adaptations
Students
learn about the diversity of adaptations and their
importance for survival. |
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Where do you find fossils?
Why should
we protect fossils?
NPS Preserves Fossils
Selected National Parks with Fossil Treasures
Fossils in Alaska National Parks |
...why fossils are important.
...what we can learn from fossils.
...what
are threats to preserving fossils.
...
the role of the National Park Service in preserving national
treasures including fossils.
...
some of the difficulties of finding and excavating
fossils.
...that the Earth's surface has changed since ancient times
...
in what types of rocks are fossils more likely to be
found.
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Science
Geography
|
...
use the Internet to do research.
...map
the location of fossil parks in the United States
...build a timeline of fossils that are protected.
...read a geologic map.
...use
maps and other reference information for scientific inquiry.
...plan the location of a scientific expedition.
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Activity
4:
Fossils Across America
Students discover which geologic periods are best protected
by national parks and where these parks are.
Activity
5:
Fossils in Alaska Word Search
Students
test their retention and vocabulary through a word search
on paleontology in Alaska.
Activity
6:
Fossil Hunting in Alaska
Students
use a geologic map of Alaska to plan where to hunt
fossils.
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How do
you search for fossils?
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...what a fossil mold and cast are.
...the
process of hunting fossils from start to finish.
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Science
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...how
to create a print and a cast.
...describe the process of fossil hunting from start to
finish.
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Activity
7:
Cookie Excavation
Students will do a hands-on excavation of chips from
different types of cookies.
Activity
8:
Print and Cast
Students
create their own print and cast.
Activity
9:
Follow a Fossil
Students read online about the process from prospecting to
exhibiting.
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What
next for paleontology?
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...about
how science and technology change over time.
...how
researchers look for evidence to support theories. |
Science
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...research
facts
...infer what evidence is necessary to support theories
...draw logical conclusions from evidence.
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Activity 10:
Fossil Futures
Students research recent
paleontology discoveries in the news.
Final Activity:
You are a
paleontologist planning an expedition to uncover new
evidence as to why the dinosaurs went extinct.
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