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Fossil Lesson
Fossil Lesson
LESSON RATIONALE
Understanding how to use a model to learn about the real thing and how to make those
connections is important. Models help make more of a lasting impact of the material. Learning
about how dinosaurs and fossils, two seemingly different objects, are closely related can help
them gain critical thinking to make connections.
READINESS
I. Goals/Objectives/Standard(s)
A. Goals:
1. Students will use the fossil dough to learn about dinosaurs and how to use
a model to learn.
B. Objectives:
1. Students will recognize that dinosaurs leave behind fossils.
2. Students will be able to articulate how dinosaur fossils are made by
impact.
C. Standards:
1. SEPS.2 Developing and using models and tools. A practice of both
science and engineering is to use and construct conceptual models that
illustrate ideas and explanations. Models are used to develop questions,
predictions and explanations; analyze and identify flaws in systems; build
and revise scientific explanations and proposed engineered systems; and
communicate ideas. Measurements and observations are used to revise and
improve models and designs.
Models include, but are not limited to: diagrams, drawings, physical
replicas, mathematical representations, analogies, and other technological
models. Another practice of both science and engineering is to identify
and correctly use tools to construct, obtain, and evaluate questions and
problems. Utilize appropriate tools while identifying their limitations.
Tools include, but are not limited to: pencil and paper, models, ruler, a
protractor, a calculator, laboratory equipment, safety gear, a spreadsheet,
experiment data collection software, and other technological tools.
Management Plan-
A. Time per element:
1. Anticipatory Set: 5-7 minutes
2. Lesson Presentation: 10-15minutes
3. Guided Practice: 20 minutes
4. Check for Understanding: 5-10 minutes
B. Use of space:
1. Anticipatory Set: Students will remain seated at their seats while
completing the picture sort
2. Lesson Presentation: Students will come to the carpet
3. Guided Practice: Students will return to their seats to work in groups.
4. Check for Understanding: Students will remain at their seats.
C. Materials
1. salt dough for fossils
2. play doh
3. dinosaur toys to make the impression on fossils
4. paper
5. pencil
6. dinosaur slides
7. brown paper bags
8. dino picture sort
II. Anticipatory Set
A. The students will complete a picture sort with pictures of fossils and dinosaurs. So
at your tables, each group has a brown paper bag, when I say go I want you to
pull the pictures out of the bag and sort them the way your group thinks best.
B. When students are done sorting I will ask a couple of groups to share how they
sorted their pictures. Then we will move to the carpet for the lesson.
III. Purpose
a. Today, we are going to learn about dinosaurs and fossils using a model. By using
the model you can learn about something when the real thing is not available.