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Where can you find whales in a desert?
Animals Through Time Unit | Lesson 1 of 3
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Where can you find whales in a desert?

Animals Through Time Unit | Lesson 1 of 3
Lesson narration:
English Spanish
Scroll for prep
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DISCUSS:

What do you think this belongs to?

mystery-fossil
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DISCUSS:

So far, Doug has found fossil seashells and a fossil shark tooth. What other fossils do you think Doug would find in the quarry?

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Step
01/16
Find a partner.
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Step
02/16
Get these supplies. You’ll get more later.
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Step
03/16
Write your name on this Fossil Dig sheet. Cut along the 2 dotted lines
until you reach the stop signs.
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Put the page with your name in it on top of the other page. Then fold
stickers over both pages near the arrows.
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05/16
Open the top layer, Layer A, of your fossil dig. Examine the fossils
that you find in this layer.
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06/16
Look at the traits of each fossil. Then fill in question #1 on your
worksheet and discuss with your partner.
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Step
07/16
Discuss. Then fill in question #2 on your worksheet.
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08/16
Open Layer B of your fossil dig. Examine the fossils that you find in
this layer.
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09/16
Fill in question #3 on your worksheet and discuss with your partner.
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10/16
Discuss. Then fill in question #4 on your worksheet.
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11/16
Get the rest of your supplies.
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Cut out your Mystery Fossils.
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Observe the traits of your Mystery Fossils. Sort them into two piles.
It’s ok if it’s hard to tell where some belong.
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Place them into their fossil layer. Then glue them in.
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Discuss these questions.
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Discuss these questions. Then watch the next video.
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DISCUSS:

Do you think habitats have changed in other parts of the world besides Illinois? How could you find out?

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habitat


1 of 13

the place where an animal or plant lives
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desert


2 of 13

a habitat that is usually hot and that gets very little rain
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forest


3 of 13

a habitat with lots of trees
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grassland


4 of 13

a habitat with mostly grasses and very few trees
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ocean


5 of 13

a habitat that is a large area of salt water
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polar


6 of 13

a habitat that is very cold
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quarry


7 of 13

a large, deep pit that people remove rock from
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trait


8 of 13

something you can observe about a living thing, such as the broad fins of a fish
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fossil


9 of 13

the remains of a plant or animal that lived a very, very long time ago
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observe


10 of 13

to pay close attention to something
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claim


11 of 13

to say or write an idea
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evidence


12 of 13

information that can be used to support or reject an idea
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model


13 of 13

a pretend version of something that scientists use when the real thing is too big, small, or complicated to work with
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Lesson narration:
English Spanish

Grade 3

Fossils & Changing Environments

Habitats, Fossils, & Environments Over Time

3-LS4-1

Activity Prep

Print Prep
THIS LESSON WAS REVISED ON JULY 1, 2019. Here is a link to the previous version.
In this lesson, students explore the idea that the rock under our feet sometimes contains fossils, and investigate how these fossils reveal changes in habitat through time. In the activity, Fossil Dig, students use paper to create a model fossil dig. They identify traits of fossils to determine what the habitat looked like when these organisms were alive. Then they use this information to figure out where some Mystery Fossils belong in their fossil dig.
Preview activity
I don't have a Mystery Pack
In your Mystery Pack Lesson Bag
Fossil Dig printout 1 per student
Fossil Dig Answer Key printout 1 per class
Fossil Dig Questions printout 1 per student
Mystery Fossils printout 1 per pair
Dot Stickers

We prefer stickers because they are easier to distribute in a classroom.

 3 stickers per student
Not included in your Mystery Pack
Fossil Dig printout 1 per student
Fossil Dig Answer Key printout 1 per class
Fossil Dig Questions printout 1 per student
Mystery Fossils printout 1 per pair
Glue Sticks 1 glue stick per student
Scissors 1 pair per student
Prep Instructions

We suggest students work in pairs.

Prepare Mystery Fossils

Mystery Fossils will print two per page so you may want to cut each page in half before class. Each student needs a ½ sheet for the activity.

Exploration

10 mins

Hands-On Activity

30 mins

Wrap-Up

10 mins

Grade 3

Fossils & Changing Environments

Habitats, Fossils, & Environments Over Time

3-LS4-1

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