5.4.4.B.1.d
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Sample Lesson Plan for Science
Kindergarten through Fourth Grade
Goal: The student will develop earth systems science skills in the area of history of earth.
CPI: Use data gathered from observations of fossils to argue whether a given fossil is terrestrial or marine in origin. 5.4.4.B.1
ACSSSD Objective: Demonstrate the ability to identify characteristics of fossils. 5.4.4.B.1.d
Activity: Students will investigate and discuss various characteristics of fossils. Students will add to current knowledge about fossils,
in particular, types of fossils (marine or terrestrial) and how they are formed, and the various characteristics of each.
Teacher and students will describe and/or recognize how different fossil types are formed. Students will make their own "fossils"
based on what they learned today and yesterday (when we discussed what kinds of living things make good fossils). Students will tell
other people the story their fossil tells.
Modifications
Materials
Assessment
Cross Content Areas
1. Students will read “Fossils
1. “Fossils Tell of Long Ago”
1. Rubric
Language Arts
Tell of Long Ago” with verbal by Aliki
Homemade fossil
Visual and Performing Arts
assistance from the staff. After
Checklist
Technology
reading, allow time for
Pictures of fossils
discussion and questions.
Homemade clay
Focus the discussion on a
Oven
variety of both terrestrial and
Smartboard
marine fossils. Using the
Computer
Smartboard, point out the
Teacher created checklist
specific characteristics that
determine which category the
fossils fall into (terrestrial or
marine). Finally, split the class
into two sections and have one
group make terrestrial fossils,
and have the second group
5.4.4.B.1.d
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make marine fossils, using
homemade clay. After the
fossils have been baked, put
them on display for the class to
discuss. Students will
complete a checklist to identify
the defining characteristics of
the fossils.
2. Read “Fossils Tell of Long
Ago” to the class. Lead a
discussion about fossils,
mentioning that some lived in
land and others lived in water.
Using the Smartboard, show
pictures of both types of
fossils, and encourage students
to discover what is different
about them. Students will
complete a T-chart on the
Smartboard, and categorize 8
fossil pictures as either marine
or terrestrial. Finally, students
will make one type of fossil.
After the fossils have been
baked, put them on display for
the class to discuss. Students
will complete a checklist with
picture symbols to identify the
defining characteristics of the
fossils.
2. Materials listed above
Pictures of fossils
T-chart
Picture symbol checklist
2. Rubric
Homemade fossil
Picture symbol checklist
5.4.4.B.1.d
3. Read the big book version
of “Fossils Tell of Long Ago”
to the class. Using the
Smartboard, show the students
pictures of fossils of animals
that lived in the sea and fossils
of animals that lived on land.
The staff, using physical
prompting, will help students
to create fossils using
homemade clay. After the
fossils have been baked, put
them on display. The teacher
will point to and describe the
main characteristics of the
fossil while using picture
symbols to reinforce the
material. Students will match
picture symbols of fossil
characteristics to the correct
fossil.
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3. “Fossils Tell of Long Ago”
by Aliki (Big Book Version)
Homemade clay
Oven
Smartboard
Computer
Pictures of fossils
Pictures of fossil characteristics
3. Rubric
Homemade fossil