Forming Fossils

by Pam Albrecht, CIT
Frances M.Rhodes Elementary
Northside ISD

Introduction
Ever wonder how we know dinosaurs even existed? Wonder how those bone dinosaurs in museums were preserved thousands, even millions of years?Since our school mascot is the "Raptor" it is important that we all understand it's background. To do that, we are looking for an explanation of fossils to post on our "Raptor Room" webpage. One presentation will be chosen to inform all Rhodes students of just how we came to know about raptors and how they lived.

Task
Your task today will be to create an illustrated PowerPoint "How to" from the perspective of Mother/Father Nature on how she/he formed fossils and why they are important to us.

Process
STEP 1: Find out what a fossil is by viewing this introductory video

To view "What is a Fossil" go to the KLRN/United Streaming site.
Log in.Click on Playlist. Choose School. Go to the Fossil Playlist.
Click on the S.
(For other schools in and out of Northside ISD, Go to Resources to find name and publishing info on the Video used.)

Step 2: Find out how "Mother Nature" forms fossils. Use the following videos/books/websites. Use this graphic to collect your information.

Resources

Source number
Name of Video/Book/Website
Publishing Information (books)
VIDEOS
1.

"Types of Fossils and How They are Formed" (video)

Follow directions above to get to this video
Fossils: Windows Into the Past. Rainbow Educational Media. 1990. unitedstreaming. 12 January 2006 <http://www.unitedstreaming.com/>
BOOKS
2.

Dinosaur Bones (book)

 Aliki. "Dinosaur Bones." New York: HarperCollins, 1988.
3.
 Digging up Dinosaurs (book) Aliki. "Digging up Dinosaurs." New York: HarperCollins, 1981.
4.
 Fossils Tell of Long Ago (book) Aliki. "Fossils Tell of Long Ago." New York: HarperCollins, 1972.
5.
 The Nature and Science of Fossils (book) Burton, Jane and Kim Taylor. "The Nature and Science of Fossils." Milwaukee: Gareth Stevens, 1999.
6.
 The Best Book of Fossils, Rocks and Minerals (book) Pellant, Chris. "The Best Book of Fossils, Rocks and Minerals." New York: Kingfisher, 2000.
7.
 Rocks and Fossils (book) Pellant, Chris. "Rocks and Fossils." Boston: Kingfisher, 2003.
8.
 Fossils (book)

Cefrey, Holly. "Fossils." New York: Rosen Pub. Group's Powerkids Press, 2003.
WEBSITES
9.
10.
11.
 

Step 3: Create an illustrated PowerPoint "How to" from the perspective of Mother/Father Nature on how she/he formed fossils and why they are important to us.

Guidelines for PowerPoint "How To"

  1. Your project should include 1 title page, a page for each step of the fossilization process, a conclusion page and a credits page for a total of 7 slides.
  2. Each slide should have a graphic (either clip art or self drawn) as well as the text describing the sun caused changes.
  3. The above graphic should be animated. (Text may also be animated, but not required)
  4. The conclusion slide should include a discussion of why it is important that we know about the fossilization process and what we can learn from fossils.
  5. A credits page should include the citations listed on the video viewing page.

(Additional suggestions listed in additional intelligences below are not required, but may be added.)

Intelligences

Within the basic project, students will be the using visual/spatial intelligence as they layout their presentation. Because they are using the perspective of Mother/Father Nature in the natural world, they will be automatically be in the naturalist intelligence (as well as showing changes over time.) The verbal/linguistic intelligence is evident in the writing portion of the presentation. Students are collecting information/data off of videos, books and websites and organizing it into charts using the logical/mathematical intelligence. If students are doing self pace research, authoring, self and peer evaluations they will be in the intrapersonal intelligence. Because the videos can be individually manipulated to start and stop, bodily/kinesthetic intelligence applies here, as well as to the individually added animations, etc within the powerpoint. Because of the final "big picture" question (Why is it important for us to study fossils and what can we learn from them?), students will be offered the existentialist intelligence.

Additional intelligences students may choose to use:
Students may choose to draw their own dinosaurs (as opposed to clip art) and then animate their movements (visual/spatial)
Students might choose to do a "voice over" or narration.(verbal linguistic)
Students could be arranged in groups to brainstorm presentation. (interpersonal)
Appropriate music could be added to enhance the presentation or text written in poetry form.(musical/rhythmic)

Evaluation

When you think you have finished your project, use this checklist to evaluate your own project.
Make any changes.
Now ask a friend to use the Peer Evaluation Tool to check it also.
Your teacher will use this rubric to grade your piece.

Conclusion
Congratulations! Now that you are the experts on fossil formation, your efforts have been recognized by the students of Rhodes by their frequent visits to your representative presentation on the Raptor Room.

Credits

Fossil background: Microsoft Textures