UEN+K-12

Fossils for 4th grade

 Objective 2 Explain how fossils can be used to make inferences about past life, climate, geology, and environments.  Standard 4 Students will understand how fossils are formed, where they may be found in Utah, and how they can be used to make inferences.
 * 1)  Explain why fossils are usually found in sedimentary rock.
 * 2)  Based on the fossils found in various locations, infer how Utah environments have changed over time (e.g., trilobite fossils indicate that Millard County was once covered by a large shallow ocean; dinosaur fossils and coal indicate that Emery and Uintah County were once tropical and swampy).
 * 3)  Research information on two scientific explanations for the extinction of dinosaurs and other prehistoric organisms.
 * 4)  Formulate questions that can be answered using information gathered on the extinction of dinosaurs.

Lesson Plans

1. Fossils -Students will act as paleontologists and attempt to figure out the environment where various fossils would have existed.  -**This lesson is about understanding how the pieces of the fossil puzzle come together helps the paleontologist to imagine the earth as it was millions of years ago. Tell the students they are going to be a paleontologist for this activity. As paleontologists they have found an abundance of fossil remains and they need to figure out the environment where the fossils would have existed. Based on the fossils they have found, they will draw a map showing the environments present in a certain area more than 70 million years ago. This activity will use drawings of fossils. If you have access to actual Utah fossils and are comfortable using them do so.** -This is a great lesson to help the students understand where fossiles came from and how to understand the surrounding enviornment of those fossils. Plus it really gets the students involved with hands on activities.

2. Dinosour Extinction -Students will research and analyze theories on why dinosaurs became extinct. - **Using books, articles or the internet have students research one of theories explaining the extinction of dinosaurs. They will need to find clues as to what the cause may have been. Have them record the evidence that they find to support their theory on the Dinosaur Extinction Theory page. They should also record weaknesses in the theory. Have the students formulate three to five questions that can be answered using the information they have gathered on the extinction of dinosaurs.** -This lesson teaches the students to research why dinosaurs went extinct, and how they can formulate questions once they have found their information.

Students

Here are some **games** for you to play to learn more about fossils. ARCTIC ARTIFACTS CAILLOU THE PALEONTOLOGIST

For **additional information** on fossils check these websites out. THE RELATIVE TIME SCALE CURSE OF T-REX

Watch these **videos** to help you understand fossils more. Digging For Bones Dinosaur Fossils



Additional ﻿Resources

Educational videos and pictures for kids Discovery Education Dino Diets

Reflection


 * 1) UEN (Utah Education Network) which is a place to connect Utah communities such as local school districts, universities, and libraries, a place to create an educational site that is safe and clean, and where teachers can go to find lesson plans.
 * 2) This is an important and valuable website because it has everything you need as a teacher; lesson objectives and standards for the state, videos, games, pictures, informative websites, to information helping teachers stay connected. It saves the trouble of searching on google and other sites for correct/safe information. The site basically plans your lessons for you, that save you so much time and stress.
 * 3) A teacher might use UEN to connect to CACTUS to keep track of credential information, to read newsletters, to find Pioneer Library, to find an educational game for their students to play. This network has so much information to help make teachers lives easier when it comes to planning their lessons while staying in line with the states curriculum, which is one of the most important parts.