Programs for Visiting School
Groups: These program are designed to meet Oregon Department
of Education (ODOE) science curriculum goals. The programs below are usually
conducted at the Sheep Rock Unit of the Monument, primarily outdoors.
Class size may range from 8 to 30 in number. Allow time for the teacher
packet to arrive, and pre-visit preparation of students.
- HORSE FAMILY
TREE A 2 to 2 ¾ hour study program for 9th grade to undergraduate
college level students. On site presentation of the Horse Fossil Study
Kit, listed below. Students investigate evidence of natural selection
and evolutionary processes through the study of horse fossils. Emphasizes
structure and function in horses and adaptations to a changing world.
- MUSEUM
DETECTIVES A
40 minute program involving a hands-on scavenger hunt for students grades
4-8. This program encourages students to fully explore the monument's
walk through time museum gallery, use observational skills and share
the results of their discoveries with fellow classmates. Pre-visit participation
is highly recommended for this activity.
- ASHFALL
DISCOVERIES A 2 hour program for students grades 3 to 6,
explores the cycle of a fossil through the fossilization process, scientific
discovery, clean up in the laboratory and museum display. Students will
also learn how fossils reveal explanations about past life. Students
hike into a field site, learn about and take field notes, do a hands-on
lab simulation and explore the museum with a ranger. Pre-visit participation
is essential for the success of this program.
- BLAST
FROM THE PAST & THE FOSSIL GAME! A one-hour, participatory
activity for young students, grades 1 to 3. It features a volcano activity,
followed by a fossilization activity. Discusses Oregon geography, volcanic
deposition, and fossil preservation processes.
- RANGER
LED HIKES AND CUSTOMIZED PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST Contact
the Education coordinator to discuss details.
Educational Materials
for Classroom Use:
- HORSE FOSSIL
STUDY KIT Includes horse fossil replicas, videos, background information
and ODOE curriculum-based, hands-on activities for students grade 9
through undergraduate level. (Kit use fee of $10.)
- FOSSIL KIT
Contains over 20 real fossils spanning geologic time, videos, slide
programs and activities targeted for students grades 3 to 9. (Kit use
fee of $10.)
- TEACHER PACKET
This packet contains information and activities for teaching the geology
and paleontology of the John Day Fossil Beds, targeted to grades 3 through
8. Click here for the PDF.
- VIDEOTAPE
Five short films on one VCR tape addressing the formation of the fossil
beds, ongoing scientific work at the monument, and the evolution of
horses (40 minutes total).
- JOHN DAY FOSSIL
BEDS WEBSITE Educational information and links at www.nps.gov/joda.
Workshops for educators:
- PALEO ACADEMY
This weeklong training is conducted mid-summer at various sites in eastern
Oregon, including John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. The monument
staff participate as instructors over several days. The workshop is
designed to introduce basic Oregon geologic and paleontologic concepts
and discoveries in the context of activities that will be easily transferred
to the classroom, including a Horse Fossil Study Kit orientation. Graduate
credits may be available. Click here
for more info.
For more information and scheduling, please call our education
program office at … (541) 987-2333, ext. 215.
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