Lesson 1: Fossil Types
Available content: Worksheet (outlined below), Fossil Types PowerPoint, and Fossil Types Worksheet.
Please email gg-info@lists.utah.edu for downloadable versions.
Geology Building Worksheet
We are visiting the geology building at the University of Utah to learn about fossils today. We will learn the types of fossils, identify them, and see research laboratories and a college campus.
Station 1: Fossil not a Fossil
1. Is a footprint a fossil? (circle one) yes no
Why? ________________________________________________________________
2. Which of these is not a fossil?
a. A dinosaur bone
b. Poop that turned into rock (coprolite)
c. A worm burrow
d. A footprint
e. An imprint of a leaf
f. They are all fossils
3. Could you extract dinosaur DNA from a bone? (circle one) yes no
Why? _______________________________________________________________________
Fossil identification activity
In front of you are different materials. Can you identify at least four samples that
you think are fossils?
| Sample | What type of fossil do you think this is? | What organism do you think created this? |
| 1 | ||
| 2 | ||
| 3 | ||
| 4 |
Create a 2D “cast” fossil activity. Use a crayon or pencil to create a rubbing of a flat fossil.
Station 2: Fossils Building Tour Observations vs. Inferences
An observation is based upon something you can sense or measure.
An inference is a conclusion based upon comparing observations with previous knowledge.
Stop 1
Observation 1. _______________________________________________________________
Observation 2. _______________________________________________________________
Inference ___________________________________________________________________
Fossil type? trace Permineralization mold & cast replacement
carbonization
Stop 2
Observation 1. _______________________________________________________________
Observation 2. _______________________________________________________________
Inference ___________________________________________________________________
Fossil type? trace Permineralization mold & cast replacement
carbonization
Stop 3
Observation 1. _______________________________________________________________
Observation 2. _______________________________________________________________
Inference ___________________________________________________________________
Fossil type? trace Permineralization mold & cast replacement
carbonization
Stop 4
Observation 1. _______________________________________________________________
Observation 2. _______________________________________________________________
Inference ___________________________________________________________________
Fossil type? trace Permineralization mold & cast replacement
carbonization
Stop 5
Observation 1. _______________________________________________________________
Observation 2. _______________________________________________________________
Inference ___________________________________________________________________
Fossil type? trace Permineralization mold & cast replacement
carbonization