3rd Grade Science Lesson
Clues in the Rock: What Fossils Tell Us About Ancient Worlds
Shared by A STEM Educator
3rd GradeNGSS Phenomenon-Based3-LS4-1, 3-LS4-245 min
Learning Objective
Students will analyze fossil evidence to construct explanations about past environments, demonstrating understanding that fossils provide information about organisms and environments from long ago (3-LS4-1).
Lesson Overview
Students investigate how fossils found at desert dig sites reveal evidence of ancient environments very different from today, using paleontologist practices to reconstruct past ecosystems.
Materials
- Photos of seashell fossils found on mountain peaks (printed or projected)
- Fossil organism picture cards (fern, fish, clam, coral, tree bark, shark tooth, dragonfly)
- Environment type cards (ocean, forest, freshwater lake, swamp)
- Rock core diagram handout (multi-layer, printed)
- Magnifying glasses
- Science notebooks or investigation handout
- Colored pencils (brown, blue, green)
- Anchor chart paper
- Sticky notes
Scaffolded Task Progression
1Task 1
FOSSIL OBSERVATION — Look at the fossil organism picture cards your teacher has given you. Choose any ONE fossil card. In your science notebook, draw the fossil and write:
(a) What living thing made this fossil?(b) Where does that kind of living thing live TODAY?(c) What does that tell you about the environment where the fossil was found long ago?
(a) What living thing made this fossil?(b) Where does that kind of living thing live TODAY?(c) What does that tell you about the environment where the fossil was found long ago?
2Task 2
FOSSIL PAIR SORT — Work with a partner. You have 6 fossil organism cards (fern, fish, clam, coral, tree bark, dragonfly) and 3 environment cards (ocean, forest, freshwater lake). Sort each fossil card under the environment where that organism most likely lived. Some environments may get more than one fossil. Record your matches in a table with two columns: Fossil Found and Environment It Came From. Be ready to explain one match to the class.
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