Paleontologists seldom have the good fortune to find a complete set of remains of an ancient organism that is wholly intact. For instance, the discovery of a frozen woolly mammoth carcass, preserved hair and all, was a truly rare event. More common are discoveries of incomplete remains, such as bones, teeth, or hair, and trace fossils, such as footprints or leaf impressions, which indicate an organism ... Full description.

In this lesson, students will understand what can be learned from fossils and in doing so, realize the difference between fact and theory. This lesson is the first of a two-part series on fossils. These lessons will go beyond naming dinosaurs and give students a broad understanding of how we know about the great beasts. They will start to acquire knowledge of the fossil record in preparation for learning ... Full description.

In this activity students study trace fossils, which commonly occur in rocks that do not contain body fossils and may be the only evidence that organisms had once lived in a certain area. They will also learn how sediment type affects fossil preservation and how to design an experiment. Full description.

Information on Kentucky fossils is organized by type, age, and region. General fossil facts are given, and there are out-of-print technical reports available at this site. A fossil identification key helps users identify unknown fossils by shape or by descriptive terms. A Geologic and Paleontologic Cookbook offers directions for creating edible models that illustrate prehistoric and other Earth Science ... Full description.

This site provides an extensive overview about many aspects of paleontology. Topics include what fossils are, types of fossils, and how they are formed. There are also tips on collecting and purchasing fossils and descriptions of some of the major fossil groups. Educational materials include a geologic time scale and clock of eras, lesson plans, and activities. Full description.

This lesson is the second in a two-part series on fossils. It explores the information that can be discerned by comparing fossils to living organisms. Students explore fossils and are responsible for using what they have learned to do their own extrapolating. Students conduct an interview with the remains of a Protoceratops. In preparation for the interview, they brainstorm the questions for which ... Full description.

Fossils provide a valuable record of the plant and animal life and environmental conditions from millions, even billions of years ago. In this lesson, students create their own fossils, and then use multimedia resources to learn how real fossils form and what scientists can learn from them. They should understand that fossils provide evidence of plants and animals that lived long ago, as well as the ... Full description.

In this lesson plan, students define and investigate paleontology, research the geological history of the Chesapeake Bay, review the geological time line, and identify fossils of the Chesapeake Bay. Full description.

The word fossil, derived from a Latin word meaning 'something dug up', refers to the preserved remains or traces of ancient life. Careful study of these remains can answer questions about life and evolution, and provide information about the history of Earth itself; for example, revealing that a tropical sea was present where only a desert exists today. This interactive feature explores the kinds ... Full description.

This collection of fossils contains 300 fossils of vertebrates and invertebrates and casts of fossils from national museums, universities and private collections. For each geologic time period, the website provides ancient world configurations, important ancient world physiographic features, ancient world locations where the fossils were found, and a comprehensive table with thumbnails of all fossils ... Full description.