Fossils Tell of Earth's Changes / Grade 2: Module 2: Unit 1: Lesson 1


“Mystery Journal Entry #1

February 28, 2012

We reached our site this morning. When I got out of the jeep, I turned in a circle. What a beautiful place! There is a valley of rocky soil, a huge blue lake, and snow-capped mountains. The other paleontologists with me were excited too.

We had heard about the site from a farmer. The farmer called our lab because he saw something very interesting in the ground. We were all wondering if this was the place we would make our greatest find.

I grabbed my dusty backpack out of the back of the jeep. I quickly checked to make sure I had all of my tools … a pickax, my brushes, and even my magnifying glass. I was ready!

We began hiking across the sand looking for the spot. We stopped at the bottom of a small hill. Was it here? I squinted my eyes and looked carefully in the rocky ground. I took a few more steps. Was it here? Suddenly someone saw something sticking up out of the ground. We all set our backpacks down and removed our tools. I really hope we find what we’ve come here to find....


Photo Clue #1


Picture Tea Party Protocol Anchor Chart

(Example, for Teacher Reference)

Picture Tea Party Protocol

/ Look closely at your picture.
/ Listen for the teacher’s signal.
/ Once you hear the signal, each group member shares his or her ideas while the other group members listen.
/ After all group members have shared, raise your hand.
/ Calmly and quietly walk around the room to form a new group of three or four students.
/ Sit in a circle with your group.
/ Each group member shares a prediction or question about his or her picture while the other group members listen.
/ After all group members have shared, raise your hand.


Picture Tea Party Protocol Pictures

Name: ______Date: ______

Note to teachers: Copy and cut apart copies of photos (one per student). Some students may have the same photo.


Picture Tea Party Protocol Pictures


Picture Tea Party Protocol Pictures


Picture Tea Party Protocol Pictures


Picture Tea Party Protocol Pictures


Question Words Sheet

RI.2.1

Note to Teachers: Display during Work Time B. Consider copying and distributing one sheet at each table, if needed, so students can reference the words easily.

Who …

What …

When …

Where …

Why …

How …


Question about Fossils Sheet

Name: ______Date: ______

RI.2.1

Note to Teachers: Cut sheets in half and give one to each student during Work TimeB.

My question about fossils is …


Question about Fossils Sheet

Name: ______Date: ______

My question about fossils is …


Unit 1 Guiding Questions Anchor Chart

·  What do paleontologists do?

·  How do characters respond to major events?


Image Credits

Copyright © 2014 Paleontological Museum Egidio Feruglio. <http://mef.org.ar/en/> Used by permission.

Hitchster. “Fossil nautilus.” Photograph. Flickr. 26 December 2009.

St. John, James. “Burning Tree Mastodon excavation (mid-December 1989), Burning Tree Golf Course, Heath, east-central Ohio 10.” Photograph. Flickr. 11 Dec 2006.

Liza. “T-rex.” Photograph. Flickr. 16 April 2009.

University of Liverpool Faculty of Health & Life Sciences. “microscope.” Photograph. Flickr. 08 November 2013.

Woodleywonderworks. “dino bones.” Photograph. Flickr. 25 December 2007.

Waits, Chris. “So I took one rock.” Photograph. Flickr. 25 September 2011.

NPS Natural Resources. “Excavation site.” Photograph. Flickr. 07 March 2016.

Morgan, Dr. Colleen. “CLM_0220.JPG.” Photograph. Flickr. 26 April 2009.

Walraven, Floortje. “Amber-free texture.” Photograph. Flickr. 27 June 2008.

St. John, James. “Fossil wood (probably Upper Triassic; probably eastern Arizona, USA.)” Photograph. Flickr. 16 October 2014.

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. “Nodosaur Footprint Verified.” Photograph. Flickr. 23 August 2012.

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