Resources: Salt, flour, coffee grounds, cold coffee or water, a mixing bowl, a mixing spoon and objects to create imprints.
Core Handout (2): A series of pictures with lines underneath for the children to explain how a fossil is created. Teacher answers are included on the second page.
Enquiry Approach - Research
Using information from a variety of sources to answer scientific questions.
Enquiry Skill - Observing and measuring
Using the senses and taking measurements, using a range of equipment, to make observations about a scientific enquiry.
Recap the previous lesson’s learning by asking the children to explain to their talk partners the effect that water can have on some types of rock.
Use the presentation to teach the children about fossils. The slides will show the children how fossils are the imprints of living things that have died. Layers and layers of sediment have turned to rock, preserving the imprint and forming the fossil.
Career Film: Take a tour around Widemouth Bay and The Etches Collection Museum on the Jurassic Coast to find out about Kirsty Simpson's job. Kirsty works as a Geologist for Nuclear Waste Management Services.
Expert Film: This is Kirsty Simpson. Kirsty works as a Geologist at Nuclear Waste Services. Kirsty explains why it is important to understand why and how fossils are formed to do her job as she explores sites to build a Geological Disposal Facility.
Children can make their own fossils by mixing together 200g salt, 150g flour and 150g coffee grounds. Mix in 100ml of cold coffee or water. If the mixture is too runny, add more flour; if it is too wet, add more water. Turn out the mixture onto a flat surface and knead it for 3-4 minutes. The ‘dough’ will be ready once it no longer sticks to your hands. At this point, the children can make their own imprints by pressing their objects into the dough. Peel off the object gently and leave the imprint to dry. It should dry in around 1 to 2 days (or sooner if left in a warm place).
Challenge Task: Using the handout, can the children explain how a fossil is created?
Rocket Thinking - Teacher Notes: A PNQ question challenges the children to think of something positive, something negative, and a question - all in response to the slide. Allow the children to explore the impact dinosaurs would have on the world if they existed today. For example:
P: It would be exciting to see a real, alive dinosaur.
N: Food chains, especially those involving humans, would differ greatly.
Q: Would humans be able to survive?
Discuss with the children famous dinosaur fossils and footprints that have been found. DE suggest looking at Dinosaur Ridge in Colorado where thousands of dinosaur footprints are embedded within the rock.
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of ancient organisms, which can provide valuable insights into the history of life on Earth. Fossils are formed through a series of steps that occur over a very long period of time.
The first step in the formation of a fossil is the death of the organism. In order for an organism to become a fossil, its remains must be buried before they can be destroyed or decayed. In some cases, the organism is buried by sediment, such as sand or mud, which is carried by water or wind.
Once the organism is buried, the next step is preservation. Preservation can occur in a variety of ways. For example, the organism's hard parts, such as bones or shells, may become fossilised through a process of mineralization. This occurs when minerals, such as calcite or silica, fill the spaces in the organism's remains and harden over time, forming a rock-like structure. In some cases, the organism's soft tissues may be preserved as well, such as in amber, ice, or tar pits.
After the remains have been preserved, the next step is discovery. Fossils are usually found through a combination of luck and careful searching. Sometimes they are exposed through natural erosion, such as when a cliff face is eroded by wind or water. In other cases, they are found by palaeontologists who search for fossils in areas where they are likely to be preserved, such as in sedimentary rock formations.
Finally, once the fossil is discovered, the last step is study. Palaeontologists can use fossils to learn about the anatomy, behaviour, and ecology of ancient organisms. By studying the distribution and characteristics of fossils, scientists can also learn about the history of life on Earth, including the evolution and extinction of different groups of organisms.
In summary, fossils are formed through a series of steps that include death, burial, preservation, discovery, and study. The fossilisation process is rare, and requires specific conditions in order for an organism to be preserved as a fossil. Fossils can provide valuable insights into the history of life on Earth and are an important tool for understanding the diversity of life and the processes that have shaped it over time.