Lesson Planfor Fossil Study

Patty Keene, 2nd Grade

(Reference-TSWBAT=The Student Will Be Able To)

ConceptsTo Teach:

How Fossils are Formed

Essential Question(s):

2nd Grade: How can people learn about the Earth long ago?

Purpose: TSWBAT understand that fossils provide evidence about the plants and animals that lived long ago on Earth.

ConceptualObjective: TSWBAT distinguish the characteristics that make up and understand that it is a lengthy process.

Specific Objectives: TSWBAT describe how fossils are formed; how new discoveries are made.

Performance Objectives/Learning Outcomes:TSWBAT differentiate between a fossil and a non-fossil, describe how they are formed and explain how new discoveries are made.

Required Materials:

Fossils Tell of Long Ago by Aliki

Fossils

Rocks

Magnifying glasses

Computer

Digital cameras

Smartboard

Scott Foresman Science book

PreTest/Activate Prior Knowledge:(KWL)

How can we learn from the past?

What is a fossil?

What can we learn from fossils?

Lead-In:

Read Fossils Tell of Long Ago

Interactive website “Getting into the Fossil Record” (

Vocabulary:

fossil

paleontologist

extinct

dinosaurs

metamorphic

sedimentary

igneous

Field Study:

Visit a site in which students can discover their own fossils.

Field Study Activities:

Students will find fossils and observe the type of rocks they are found in.

They will draw and write what they have discovered.

Independent Practice:

Students will create their own fossils.

Reflective Set:

Children will discuss their findings from the field study within their cooperative groups, then each group will share out their findings with the whole class.

Assessments:

Drawings

Fossil Making

Information chart

Fossil Records (pg. 67 fromScience by Creative Teaching Press)

AdaptationsforStudents W/ Disabilities: This willbebased on needs of individual kids.

Extensions/Enrichment:

Fossil Hunt field trip

Create power points

Classroom Management:

Small groups

Technology Connections:

Putting pictures on a computer

CROSS-CURRICULAR CONNECTIONS:

Art:

  • Students will create their own fossil
  • Students will draw their fossils found on fossils hunt

Math:

  • measurement

ELA:

  • journal writing
  • following directions

NEW YORK LEARNING STANDARDS ADDRESSED

MST:

TECHNOLOGY

  • Standard 5

THE LIVING ENVIRONMENT :

  • Key Idea #1 Living things are both similar to and different from each other and non-living things.
  • Key Idea #3 Individual organisms and species change over time.
  • Key Idea #5 Organisms maintain a dynamic equilibrium that sustains life.
  • Key Idea #6 Plants and animals depend on each other and their physical environment.

THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT:

  • Key Idea #1 Many of the phenomena that we observe on Earth involve interactions among components air, water, and land.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS (GRADES 2-4):

READING, WRITING, LISTENING, SPEAKING:

  • Standard 1: Students will RWLS for information and understanding.
  • Standard 3: Students will RWLS for critical analysis and evaluation.