This lesson plan is part of the DiscoverySchool.com lesson plan library for grades 6-8. It focuses on the Mesozoic era of Earth's history, when the dinosaurs were alive. Students divide into groups to research one of the three periods of this time, and create a habitat mural for that time period. At the end, comparisons are made between the three time periods to discover how dinosaurs evolved during ... Full description.

This lesson plan is part of the DiscoverySchool.com lesson plan library for grades 6-8. It focuses on topography and how to identify significant landforms in literature. This is a cross-curricular lesson where students use a novel they have recently read to identify and understand topography features and the geological terms that identify these landforms. Included are objectives, materials, procedures, ... Full description.

This informational tour offers students a basic understanding of geologic time, the evidence for events in the history of the Earth, relative and absolute dating techniques, and the significance of the Geologic Time Scale. Students move at a self-selected pace by answering questions correctly as they go. The teacher's guide contains all the details needed to use this computer activity, including handouts, ... Full description.

This Classroom Connectors lesson plan discusses the characteristics of geologic time, including the law of superposition, fossil preservation, casts and molds, and various events through the history of the Earth. The site provides goals, objectives, an outline, time required, materials, activities, and closure ideas for the lesson. The Classroom Connectors address content with an activity approach ... Full description.

This slide show presents images of dinosaur bones and shows paleotologists at work excavating and preserving these fossils, the best evidence remaining of these long-lost creatures. A background essay and discussion questons are included. Full description.

In this activity, students will use pre-marked paper strips to simulate tree-ring core samples to help them understand that data for past climate changes can be gathered from sources beyond long-term weather observations. Students will be able to recognize the direct impact of climate on annual tree growth patterns. The student guide has an overall description of the activity, a list of materials, ... Full description.

This slide show presents images which show the paleogeography of the southwestern United States from 1.8 billion years ago to 10 million years ago. The slide show was originally presented at the annual meeting of the Geological Society of America in 1997. Beginning in the Precambrian, it traces the paleogeographic evolution of the region through the Tertiary. Emphasis is on the Mesozoic where two ... Full description.

This site provides links to tours of National Parks, National Monuments, and Recreation Areas associated with major mountain building periods. The parks are divided into groups by mountain building events: Appalachian, Laramide, and others. Where appropriate, links are provided to park geology, maps, photographs, geologic research, related links, visitor information, multi-media, and teacher features ... Full description.

This National Park Service (NPS) site provides links to shoreline geology fieldnotes for National Parks, Monuments, and Recreation Areas. When appropriate, fieldnotes include visitor information, geology, maps, photographs, multimedia resources, geologic research, and teacher features (lessons for teaching geology with National Park examples). Some of the parks included on this site: Acadia National ... Full description.

In this article, The Why Files examines amber as nature's preservative. This fossilized resin has provided scientists with important clues and evidence for ancient life on Earth. The article investigates what amber is, how it preserves, where it is found, and the discoveries about ancient DNA that have been made by using amber fossils. Full description.