|
Fossils give us an amazing picture of past life on Earth, but the picture is hardly complete. Only a tiny proportion of organisms that have ever lived are preserved as fossils. The ones that have been preserved tend to be mostly small, shelled invertebrates (organisms without backbones) that lived on the beds of shallow oceans. This is because hard skeletal materials, like bones and shells, have a far higher probability of preservation than soft tissues, which tend to decompose quickly. Fossils of soft-bodied organisms, such as mammals, are very rare. Because fossils are limited to hard parts, we have little idea, or have to guess, about other features of an organism, such as what color it was, whether or not it had fur, or even what the size of its nose was.
The goal of this investigation is for students to develop a basic understanding of what fossils are and how they provide clues about past organisms. Students describe a collection of fossils and consider what was fossilized and what seems to be missing. They see that some parts of organisms are more likely to become fossils than others. Students see that nearly all fossils are from small, shelled ocean creatures. They examine the features of each fossil and come up with ideas about the role those features may have played in keeping the organism alive.
Back To Top
|
Per group:
- A variety of fossil specimens – Fossils can be purchased in kit form from commercial suppliers, e.g. http://www.educationalfossils.com/fossilkits.htm If you are not able to obtain fossils in kit form and if your school does not have a fossil collection, or if you do not have a personal fossil collection, you will need to find a source of fossils. It is always worth asking the students themselves if anyone has a collection. If your school is in a fossil-rich area, you may be able to use a field trip to collect them. However, it is important that the collection be as varied in age and type as possible. Ideally, you will have fossils of both animals and plants. Museums or geology departments at universities may have collections that you can borrow for your classroom.
- white index cards, one per fossil specimen
- magnifying lens
- pencil
- (optional) colored pencils, crayons or markers
Images to be viewed by the class:
For the instructor:
- flip chart paper or whiteboard
- markers
Back To Top |
|
This investigation is generally considered safe to do with students. However, review the investigation for your specific setting, materials, students, and conventional safety precautions.
Back To Top
Next  |
