Grades 3 through 6

Objectives

45 minutes

Location

Classroom

Background

Paleontology is the study of ancient life.  Archaeology is the study of ancient human history.  Paleontologists learn about early creatures through the remains left of their bodies, called fossils.  Archaeologists study those remains, too, but they can also study the remains of objects ancient people made.  Such objects are called artifacts.  

Both paleontology and archaeology involve fieldwork, including excavation -- the digging of fossils and ancient artifacts from the ground.  It is very painstaking and detailed work, requiring patience, skill, and the ability to focus in on a small area for a long period of time.  

The typical field tools for paleontologists and archaeologists are dental tools, like metal picks and scrapers, and brushes.  They also use trowels when they are sure there are no small objects in an area that could be damaged.  They may work years or even decades excavating a single site.  Archaeologists have worked on a single site in Egypt since 1928 and they are still finding new information.  

In 1993, two visitors out for a hike in Badlands National Park found a backbone eroding out of the ground along the Conata Road.  They did the exact right thing: They did not move or attempt to remove anything themselves.  Instead, they took pictures and made a map of where the vertebral column was.  They then walked back to their car, drove to the Visitor Center, and completed a Paleontological Field Report.  The Park paleontology staff went out to see the find and determined that it was the backbone of an Archaeotherium, a pig-like mammal that stood six feet at the shoulder.  The park staff consulted with professional paleontologists and, under their supervision, began excavating.  Several Archaeotherium were found, as well as several Subhyracodon (ancient rhinoceros), Leptomeryx (tiny ancient deer) and other mammals.  Since 1993, over 5,000 fossilized bones have been found in the site, now called the Big Pig Dig.  

The Pig Dig is open to the public from mid-June through late August when funding is available.  Paleontology students work the site under the supervision of the park paleontologist.  An educator is on-site daily to answer questions and assist the staff.  After four years, there is still much to be learned about the site.  There are no oreodonts (close relatives to the camel) found in the site, which is strange because the oreodont was the most common land mammal in the area during the time the site would have been active.  Examination of the bones shows that almost none have been chewed on.  With so many animals available to be eaten, why have we found no carnivores?  Why is there so little evidence of feeding?  Why is there such a diversity of species and so many individual animals at this exact site?  

Materials

Vocabulary

Method

Practice paleontological field techniques.

Give each student one of each type of cookie, two paper towels, and six toothpicks.

Have the students first work on the hard cookies to extract the chocolate chip or raisin using only the toothpicks.  If they break a toothpick so that it is no longer sharp, they can no longer use it.  It must be discarded.  

After 3 to 5 minutes, stop and find out if anyone was successful in extracting anything.  If so, ask them to report to the rest of the class the condition of the raisins and/or chips.  Are there still bits of cookie clinging to them?  What was it like trying to remove the raisins and/or chips from the extremely firm cookie?  Has anyone used up all their toothpicks already?

Now let them work on the soft cookies using the same constraints and rules.  

After 3 to 5 minutes, stop and repeat.  

How was it different working in the soft cookies than the hard cookie?  Which was easier to extract - chips or raisins?

Excavating raisins or chocolate chips from a cookie is similar to the work paleontologists do in the field, but working in a classroom is much different from excavating fossils on your hands and knees in the hot sun.  To give your students a more realistic feel for paleontology fieldwork, bury some items in a school garden or other area where digging is acceptable, and have them excavate the items.  This time, instead of toothpicks, provide them with nails or screwdrivers and a garden trowel.  

Resources