Let’s take a look at fossils and past environments! Fossils are fascinating phenomena that lead students to excitement about the discovery of our Earth’s past. Depending on the experiences students have had about fossils, they can bring in common misconceptions such as:
Fossils only include animals, not plants
Scientists know the exact age of a fossil
Organisms from prehistoric times are not alive today
Fossils of tropical origins cannot be found in cold or dry environments
Fossils are only bones and shells of extinct animals
Below are FIVE tips to help 3rd grade and 4th grade students form claims based on evidence rather than their misconceptions.
TEKS:
3.12D identify fossils as evidence of past living organisms and environments, including common Texas fossils
4.12C identify and describe past environments based on fossil evidence, including common Texas fossils
NGSS:
3-LS4-1 Analyze and interpret data from fossils to provide evidence of the organisms and the environments in which they lived long ago.
4-ESS1-1 Identify evidence from patterns in rock formations and fossils in rock layers to support an explanation for changes in a landscape over time.
#1 Dig up fossils
Begin with an EXPLORATION activity using our Fossil Dig activity.
Students are given a bin with various layers of dirt/mulch with fossils in each layer to explore. Don’t have any fossils? Make your fossil models using labeled rocks or objects, or check Amazon for an affordable fossil set.
Your students will begin collecting evidence of the environment for specific fossils supporting the claim of how the landscape changed over time.
#2 Make Fossil Models
To help students understand how impression fossils form, model mold and cast fossils.
Our Fossil Models resource will walk you through step by step and provide student printables and extensions for compare/contrast and cause-and-effect.
Molly said, “I downloaded this to supplement with my curriculum to provide a hands-on approach to fossils! I love doing salt dough fossils but the add on with colored glue is so cool! “
See it on TPT: Fossil Models
#3 Fossils Phenomenon-Based Unit
If you need a comprehensive resource to teach your fossils unit, you’ve found it! (Seriously.)
Students do team activities, explore models, collaborate on a CER (Claim, Evidence, Reasoning), take a quiz, and more!
Claire says: “This is a fantastic resource to own! Instructions and guidelines are clear. It really helped my students grasp the idea of how rocks and fossils help us understand how the earth has changed over time.”
See it on TPT: Choose between the 3rd Grade TEKS unit and 4th Grade NGSS unit.
#4 Observation Stations
Need a paper-based option for practicing how fossils provide evidence of past environments?
Once students understand that older fossils are most found in layers below younger fossils, Fossils Observation Stations is great for getting students up and walking to apply their knowledge during the explain phase.
See it on TPT: Fossils Observation Stations
#5 Learn With Centers
If you’re short on time but want meaningful fossil activities, try these five centers.
Whitney, a third-grade teacher from SC, said: “I bought this resource literally 20 minutes before I needed to teach it and it was so easy to set up and use! My students really enjoyed the rotation style learning and I enjoyed the easy setup!”
See it on TPT: Fossils Science Weekly Five
Top Teaching Tools for Fossils and Past Environments
Teach with these phenomenal fossil resources!
