S3E2. STUDENTS WILL INVESTIGATE
FOSSILS AS EVIDENCE OF ORGANISMS
THAT LIVED LONG AGO.
a. Investigate fossils by observing authentic
fossils or models of fossils or view information
resources about fossils as evidence of
organisms that lived long ago.
b.Describe how a fossil is formed.
Fossils are more than
Dinosaur Bones!
What can turn into a fossil?
The Day the Mesozoic Died
The disappearance of the dinosaurs at the end of the
Cretaceous period posed one of the greatest, longstanding scientific mysteries. The story is shot on location
in Italy, Spain, Texas, Colorado and North Dakota. The film
traces the uncovering of key clues that lead to the
stunning discovery that an asteroid struck the Earth 66
million years ago, triggering a mass extinction of animals,
plants, and even microorganisms.
Need Images? http://www.paleoportal.org
Fossil Misconception
Misconception: Fossils are pieces of dead animals
and plants.
Fact: Fossils are not actually pieces of dead animals
and plants. They are only the impression or cast of
the original living thing. The actual living parts
decay away but their shape is permanently recorded
in the rock as it hardens.
What is the difference between a bone and a
fossil?
The bone has been replaced by minerals in a fossil. The
bone has become a rock.
Collecting Important Data
Map the grid.
Measure the find.
Record the
information.
Include date, location, and
conditions.
The position is important to understanding how the animal lived and died.
Classroom Dinosaur Dig
 Each group gets the materials.
 Probe each area with a toothpick to locate possible dinosaur
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evidence.
Mark where to dig on the grid map.
Decide which grid to excavate.
Slowly and carefully use the spoon to uncover the discovery.
Record data in your journal and sketch what you found.
In this illustration of a Tyrannosaurus rex specimen called
Bucky, the shaded areas represent actual fossils.
The remainder of the skeleton is made of casts taken from
other T. rex fossils.
Bucky is considered to be the sixth most complete T. rex
ever discovered. A complete dinosaur skeleton is a rare
find.
Imprint, Mold and Cast Fossils
This rare imprint of Edmontosaurus skin was a
significant discovery on The Children’s Museum’s
2003 Dino Institute Teacher Dig in South
Dakota.The fossil indicates that the dinosaur
may have had scaly skin, but it provides no clue
about its color.