Fossils
The Discovery of Dinosaurs
Backup Plan
• In case of a power outage or in the event
that there are not enough computers
available, a print out of each slide will be
provided to all students. The internet
portion of the lesson plan will be printed off
and provided to students also.
Facts about Fossils
• A type of scientist named a
paleontologist studies fossils to
learn about prehistoric plants
and animals.
• Fossils can be mineralized
bones, teeth, shells, wood, or
actual unaltered material from
an organism, like frozen flesh
or bones!
• The best place to go and see
real fossils found by
paleontologist is the Museum.
• Fossils are identified,
catalogued, and stored safely
for research at the museum.
• The oldest known fossils are
3.5 Billion years old!
Where are fossils found?
• Sediments are deposited
in layers, sometimes
burying traces of life.
These sedimentary rocks
are stratified.
• Most fossils are found in
sedimentary rock.
• Sedimentary rocks are
made of sand, silt, mud,
or cobbles. Sediments
are often carried in water,
and deposited in layers or
strata.
How are fossils extracted?
• Fossils are extracted
from rock using
special tools.
Fun Facts about Dinosaurs
• There are over 300 different
species of Dinosaurs that have
been found so far.
• The longest dinosaur ever
found was Seismosaurus.
This dinosaur was more than
140 feet long and may have
weighed 80 to 100 tons!
• The smallest dinosaur ever
found was known as
Compsognathus, it was the
size of a chicken.
• Dinosaurs roams the earth
over 180 Million years ago!
A Few Extinct Animals
A Few Special Features
The Plant Eater: Sauropod
The Life of Dinosaurs
• Dinosaurs were landdwelling reptiles that
walked with an erect
stance. Their unique hip
structure caused their
legs to stick out under
their bodies, and not
sprawl out from the side.
• There were many
different types of
dinosaurs, differing in
size and weight,
locomotion, and diet.
Web Research Activity
• Learn about different
kinds of dinosaurs and
activities from the web.
• Visit “enchanted learning”
to go on a discovery of
dinosaurs and take
quizzes about them also.
• After longging onto the
internet, type in
http://www.enchantedlear
ning.com/subjects/dinosa
urs/index.html
• Click on the highlighted categories to view
information about dinosaurs.
• Choose a dinosaur of your choice and
research it on enchanted learning by
typing in the name of the dinosaur you
choose.
• When you are finished researching your
dinosaur, click on Dinosaur quizzes to take
a quiz on dinosaurs.
• Visit the “Classroom activities” and print
out dinosaurs!!
Making Fossil Replicas
• Today, we are going
to make our own
fossils using plaster
and molds such as
leaves.
• We are going to leave
our own prints in
history, just as the
dinosaurs did 180
Million years ago.
• Have Fun!!!!!