Today we will be investigating actual paleontologists uncovering the fossilized remains of extinct organisms. Each organism lived at
a different point in geologic history, in a different climate, and had to behave a certain way to survive. As you have discovered,
organisms can only become fossilized under certain circumstances. Each virtual “dig” will uncover a whole new way of looking
at those creatures who came before us.
After you have logged on- You will be investigating two different sites:
Part 1:
1) Begin with the National Geographic Virtual Dig.
2) Answer the following questions for Sites 1, 2 and 3.
3) What type of organism(s) did you find?
4) What information can you extract from the fossil remains about what the living organism was
like? For example, diet, environment, niche, how it died, etc.
Part 2:
Go to Field Adventures digs, (look at all of the digs and choose three that interest you). Answer the following for your three digs:
a) Where is the dig taking place?
b) What animals/organisms have been uncovered?
c) In what type of rock were the fossils found?
Then....
d) Choose three fossils. (ex. Trilobites) Recreate pictures, and explain their age, size, habitat, and other places in the world they can be found. (You will need to do some additional research!)
Life Through Time Exhibit (examples of life forms from different geologic time periods)
Follow-up...
e) Why are smaller organisms more likely to be found
completely intact?
f) Explain, why it is so difficult for organisms to become fossilized.
g) How are the North American digs different than the Australian or African digs.
Provide at least four examples.