Fossils
Main Topics | Standards | Science Probe | Lessons | Resources
- Main Topics & Concepts
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How fossils are used to interpret life from the past.
- Standards
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SFUSD Performance Standard 17.10 Describing
how fossil deposits and rock formations help date when changes have occurred on Earth.
- Science Probe Text
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Other than using index fossils to interpret relative and
absolute time in Science Probe II Chapter 12, the text does not provide
any information about how fossils are used to interpret other aspects of life in the past.
Activity Access Description Science Probe II: Activity 12F
Age Dating of Sedimentary Rocks
This problem-solving activity requires students to apply geologic principles and fossil interpretation to determine the absolute ages of sedimentary rocks at a given location. - Activities & Lessons
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Activity Access Description Great Fossil Find Evolution and Nature of Science Institute
Students are taken on an imaginary hunt where they "find fossils" of an unknown organism and hypothesize about what it is. As they discover more bones, observe their colleague's finds, and use a resource manual, they have the opportunity to revise their original hypotheses. Great lesson that teaches many aspects of the process of science. Stories From the Fossil Record Museum of Paleontology
COMING SOON! This on-line module introduces students to the variety of information that can be interpreted from fossils, including past environments, geologic events, evolution, etc.. - Resources
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Resources Access Description Museum of Paleontology Web Site Museum of Paleontology
This web site contains online exhibits about fossils and living organisms, time periods, phylogeny, geology, evolution, and more. Includes many good images and descriptions of past life.