Lesson Plan Analysis
Third Grade Science
Fossils
Heather Towery Davis
EDU 327
Spring 2011/Session II
Standards
• Georgia & Cherokee County Performance Standards
– S3E2 Students will investigate fossils as evidence of
organisms that lived long ago.
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Investigate fossils by observing authentic fossils or models of
fossils or view information resources about fossils as evidence of
organisms that lived long ago.
Describe how a fossil is formed.
– S3CS4 Students will use ideas of system, model, change,
and scale in exploring scientific and technological matters.
– ELA3LSV1d Listens to and views a variety of media to
acquire information.
• Technology Standard
– Topic: Problem Solving/Decision Making
• Standard: Uses technology to solve problems and make decisions
with teacher guidance.
Essential Content/Objectives
• Students will learn what a fossil is.
• Students will learn how a fossil is formed.
• Students will learn how a fossil can help us
learn about the past.
• Students will learn what other discoveries
help us learn about Earth’s past.
• Students will learn the following important
vocabulary terms: fossil; extinct; sediment;
paleontologist; decompose.
Materials/Resources
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Fossil Samples
Response Cards {See Attachment 1} – Copy and cut out prior to lesson
Pre-assessment {See Attachment 2}
Computer with sound and linked to promethean board
Mobile Computer Lab
Printer
Graphic Organizer {See Attachment 3}
Brain Pop video: http://www.brainpopjr.com/science/land/fossils/
New Knowledge Acquisition Assessment {See Attachment 4}
Clay; pre-shaped into balls prior to class
Shells
Fossils Crossword Puzzle; created by Heather Towery Davis at
www.puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com {See Attachment Five}
Online sequence game: http://www.brainpopjr.com/science/land/fossils/sequenceorder/
Online Word Wall: http://www.brainpopjr.com/science/land/fossils/wordwall/
Assessment of Applied Practice {See Attachment Six}
Online quiz, Easy: http://www.brainpopjr.com/science/land/fossils/easyquiz/
Online quiz, Hard: http://www.brainpopjr.com/science/land/fossils/hardquiz/
Post-Assessment {See Attachment Seven}
Post-Assessment Breakdown of Easy Quiz and Hard Quiz {See Attachments Eight and Nine}
Activate and Pre-Assess
Student Prior Knowledge
• Fossil Observation – small group activity
– Fossil of pterodactyl
– Small – fit on an 8X10 ceramic tile
– Came with Cherokee County School District’s Science Curriculum
• Response Cards
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My group’s fossil is of a plant.
My group’s fossil is of an insect.
My group’s fossil is of an animal.
My group’s fossil was a meat eater.
My group’s fossil could fly.
My group’s fossil had a tail.
My group’s fossil resembles an elephant.
My group’s fossil resembles a bird.
My group’s fossil resembles a cat.
Pre-Assessment
Provide for New
Knowledge Acquisition
• Graphic Organizer
• Brain Pop Video
• Review
Assessment of New Knowledge Acquisition
Graphic Organizer
Differentiate Assignments
for Student Applied Practice
Center One
•Fossil Imprints
•From a ball of clay
•Shells or handprints
•Students make oral observations
about their imprints.
Center Two
Fossils Crossword
Puzzle
Center Three
Brain Pop
Sequence Game
Brain Pop
Word Wall
Assessment of Differentiated Assignments for
Applied Practice
Post-Assessment for Students
to Independently Demonstrate
Knowledge and Competencies
Easy Quiz
Hard Quiz
Post-Assessment Breakdowns
Easy Quiz
Hard Quiz
Post-Assessment
Nice Surprise
High-Touch High-Tech
In House Field Trip
Reflection
What I would change in the lesson:
•Two 45-minute time blocks
•Would change center three to a
teacher led lesson on process of
how a fossil is formed.