Introduction
Introduction
Have you ever wondered how scientists figured out what the dinosaurs were like? It wasn't
because they made a time-machine to take them back to 65 million years ago. It was because
of fossils!
-------------------------------What are fossils?-------------------------------
Fossils are the remains or impressions left by plants or animals that lived a very long time
ago. The fossils may look the same as when the plant or animal was alive but have now
changed to stone.
------------------------------How are they found?------------------------------
Fossils are found by paleontologists. It's their job to search for fossils! They travel around
the world and dig into the ground for signs of any remains. As the Earth's surface changes
over time, fossils rise to the surface, which makes them easier to find. In finding these
fossils, we can learn more about how the Earth may have looked like millions of years ago.
Task
Task
In this WebQuest, you are going to learn about how fossils are made and how they are used
to help us learn about how the Earth may have looked like millions of years ago. Also, you are
going to learn about the dinosaurs!
Process
Process
1. Watch the video "WHAT'S A FOSSIL?". Then, on a piece of paper, write 3 things that
you learned from this video. (How are fossils formed? Describe some of the steps. How are
these fossils found naturally? What does this say about the Earth?)
WHAT'S A FOSSIL? video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rkGu0BItKM
2. Then, go to this website http://www.kidsdinos.com/dinosaurs-for-children.php and pick a
dinosaur to write about! In your own words, write at least 5 complete sentences about the
dinosaur. Include the period in which they lived, their size and weight, their diet, and where
they lived.
Evaluation
Evaluation
| Rubric | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Spelling/Grammar | Student had no/only 1 or 2 spelling and grammar errors |
Student had multiple spelling and grammar errors |
Student had several spelling and grammar errors |
| Complete Sentences | Student wrote in their own words using complete sentences. | Student wrote in their own words/ complete sentences most of the time. | Student rarely wrote in their own words/ complete sentences. |
| Length (Video) | Student wrote at least 3 things that they learned from the video | Student wrote 2 things that they learned from the video | Student wrote 1 thing that they learned from the video |
|
Length (Dinosaur) |
Student wrote at least 5 sentenes about their dinosaur | Student wrote 3 sentences about their dinosaur | Student wrote less than 3 sentences about their dinosaur |
|
Effort |
Student put a lot of effort into this assignmet | Student put a lot of effort in this assignment most of the time | Student did not put much effort into this assignment |
Conclusion
Conclusion
Good work! Now you're one step closer to becoming a dinosaur expert.
(If you think fossils are cool, you might want to be a paleontologist!)
Credits
Teacher Page
Teacher Page
- This WebQuest is focused for 4th grade students.
- While this activity can be done independently with 4th graders, I would suggest putting
younger students in groups to work together.
- The assignments found in this WebQuest can be turned into a project. After students do
their research with the websites provided, they then can add visuals/drawings and
transfer the information onto poster board/ project board/ prefered.
Standards used:
4.E.2 Understand the use of fossils and changes in the surface of the earth as evidence of the history of Earth and its changing life forms.
4.E.2.2 Infer ideas about Earth’s early environments from fossils of plants and animals that lived long ago.