Fossils For third Graders

Table of Contents Georgia Performance Standard Websites Activity One Activity Two Activity Three Software Reviews

Georgia Performance Standard This website is full of information on fossils for third graders.  The websites and activities on this page meet the following Georgia Performance Standard: 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 viewing informational resources about fossils as evidence of organisms that lived long ago. b. Describe how fossil is formed.

Fun Fossil Websites Finding Fossils  This great website takes students on a dinosaur dig.  First you discover what fossils are, then where to find them, and last it tells you how to look for fossils. Wanted: Albertosaurus  Follow this National Geographic link on this website and learn all about the search for the Albertosaurus. Discovernet  This wonderful site allows students to create their own museum exhibition! Students can choose different fossils, study them and create their own labels! 2000 Fossils Under the Ground  This great site explains the difference between vertebrate and invertebrate fossils. Discovering Fossils  Want to learn how a fossil is formed? Check out this website to find out!

Activity One 1.  Museum Exhibition 2.  PLO - Students will visit the website, Discovernet, click on the "make your own exhibition" link,    and create their own museum exhibition. The student will be able to describe fossils and explain the duties of a museum curator in writing. 3.  Materials - Discovernet website, Microsoft word 4.  Procedures - Students will navigate the Discover net website, paying close attention to the duties of the museum curator and details about the various fossils. 5.  Product:  After visiting the website, students will close the website and go to the Microsoft Word program.  In Word, the students will write a fantasy story in which they are a museum curator.  The students will pick one fossil they studied on the website and write as though it was just brought into the museum to be put on display.  Students should tell where the fossil came from, what type of animal it was, what it ate, and at least one other interesting fact about the fossil.  When students are finished with the story, they should print it out and add an illustration.

Activity Two 1.  Mystery of Albertosaurus 2.  PLO - Students will study the remains of the Albertosaurus in the website, Wanted: Albertosaurus, and learn the steps archaeologists take in discovering a new species.  From studying the fossils presented, students will predict what the animal looked like. 3. Materials -  Wanted: Albertosaurus website, and Microsoft Paint  program. 4. Procedures   Students will navigate the Wanted: Albertosaurus website paying close attention to the pictures of the fossils.  Next they will close the website and open Paint program.  In the Paint program, students will create their own wanted poster.  They will decide what the Albertosaurus must have looked like from the fossils presented in the website. Students should include a brief description of the animal: what did it eat, where did it live, and at least one interesting fact.  Students should also give a reason why the animal is wanted.   When the students are finished with their work, they should print it and close the program. 5.  Product:  By completing this assignment, the students will show that they are able to investigate fossils as evidence of organisms that lived long ago.

Activity Three 1.  How is a fossil formed? 2. PLO - Students will be able to describe how a fossil is formed. 3. Materials - Discovering Fossils website, paper, pencils, markers, shells, plaster, petroleum jelly 4. Procedures   Students will navigate the Discovering Fossils website, paying close attention to how a fossil is formed.  Next the students will come to the teacher two at a time and make their own fossil.  The teacher will have the students coat the inside of a shell with petroleum jelly and then fill the shell with plaster. After the plaster has dried, the student will be able to pull the fossil out, and it will not stick because of the petroleum jelly.  5.  Product:   The students will take their paper and pencil and describe, step by step, how a fossil is formed.  When finished with the writing, the students may illustrate the process.

Software Review                                        Microsoft Paint Program Published by: Microsoft Teachers and Parents can use this software to guide students and allow them to incorporate art and science. This software is great for creating paint pictures and artwork.  It is a little tricky to use at first, but doesn't take long to get the hang of.

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