Intro

Objective: 24 January 2013Explain how scientists use fossils as clues to discover Earth’s history.

Unscramble the pictures to reveal what this is; how do you know?

PALEONTOLOGY

Paleontology Paleontology

Paleontologist

Study of fossils Need to study

geology & anatomy (study of skeletal and organ structures)

Scientist who studies fossils

Yes, this is a real creature, it’s called a “Gerothorax”.

Now try this…

Paleontology To start this

investigation, turn to next blank page and do this

Number each box as 1, 2, 3, and 4.

1 2

3 4

Paleontology Each group

will get a bag… like this one!

In the bag are the “remains” of an extinct animal.

Paleontology When you are told

to do so, one person from your group will pick out THREE fossils from the bag!

You will then try to come up with what kind of creature could have left this fossil. Draw it in Box 1

Paleontology Some fossils will

be more difficult than others… you must persevere!

When you are told, you will then pick out another THREE fossils, and draw a revised picture in box 2.

Paleontology Next, your

group will be given the opportunity to view other groups drawings and fossils.

You should revise your drawing in box 3.

Paleontology Finally, you

will expose all of the fossils in the bag, and try to reconstruct the creature and draw it in box 4.

Paleontology What did your group come up with?

Anyone feel like sharing? Does yours look like this?

Paleontology

Paleontology Oh wait, we’re

not done yet! Bet you were wondering what this section is for, huh?

Well…

1 2

3 4

Paleontology Now that you’ve unearthed your creature

and put it back together, it’s time to name it and describe it’s history! Write a short paragraph (10 sentences minimum) describing your creature. Name Why it’s named that What happened to it (how it died) What it ate Where it lived What modern-day species it’s related to

Objective: 24 January 2013

Outro

Explain how scientists use fossils as clues to discover Earth’s history.

How easy do you think it would be to have a career as a paleontologist?