EXPERIENCE PALAEONTOLOGY
- FOR HOMESCHOOL -
PARENT’S GUIDE
The Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology is pleased to offer Experience Palaeontology —
an interactive Distance Learning program developed specifically for homeschool students
and the first known course of its kind in North America! Delivered live by a Science Educator
for up to three homeschool sites, participants will learn about palaeontology, museum careers,
and Canada’s rich fossil heritage through lively discussions, fun games, and a behind-the-scenes look
of the Museum’s inner workings. Aligning with Homeschooling Learning Outcomes, our included
workbook and post-session activities will allow students to keep learning, even after the course ends.
Using cutting-edge technology, connecting to the Museum through a personal computer is as easy
as point-and-click, with no third-party software to download or to register for.
Course Information
• Course comprises three, one-hour sessions, delivered once a week for three consecutive
weeks on the same day each week.
— Course dates are posted on the tyrrellmuseum.com website under Distance Learning.
— Cancellations must be received 72 hours in advance of the course start date to receive
a full refund.
— Students who miss the second session are welcome to attend the third, however students
who miss the first session will not be able to attend the other sessions as they will have
missed the fundamental information required to participate in the course. No refunds
will be offered for missed sessions.
• For children ages 8 -11.
— Younger individuals may view the sessions, but will not be considered participants.
— Older individuals may participate with the understanding that the content was developed
for ages 8 -11.
• Each course is open to three sites and will be booked on a “first come, first served” basis.
• $125 per course, per site. Payment is required by credit card in advance of the course start date.
• Three (3) students may participate per site.
— This allows for optimal interaction between the students and the Educator.
— Larger groups may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
• Workbook
— Assists participants in learning important concepts throughout the sessions
and will be emailed following your booking.
— Provides post-session activities for students interested in further exploring related topics.
• Test Connection
— A test connection is required to ensure connectivity. Following the booking, instructions
will be sent within three weeks of the course start date.
— Sites that are unable to test three days before the commencement of the course,
or who do not have the technical requirements will be removed from the course
and a refund will be issued.
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Technical Requirements
• Personal computer (desktop or laptop), with webcam, running either Microsoft or Apple OS.
— External speakers and a microphone are recommended, but not required.
— Only one computer is permitted per site.
• Groups may wish to connect their computer to a larger display, such as a TV.
• A high speed, broadband internet connection.
— Public Wi-Fi connections can be supported, however connections using dial-up,
3G/4G, and mobile hotspots are not supported.
Participation Guidelines
Please review with students before the first session.
1. A copy of the course workbook should be printed and ready for the first session.
2. Students and their computer should be in a quiet room during the session times.
3. No eating food during the sessions as it is distracting to the Educator and other students.
4. Students with questions or comments should raise their hand to gain the attention
of the Educator rather than interrupting or using the chat window.
5. It is recommended that parents remain in the room or close by in case
of technical or other challenges.
Sites with students who are disruptive or unruly will be removed from the session
at the Educator’s discretion with no refund offered.
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Course Overview
SESSION 1 – BARE BONES
Get familiar with the “bare bones” of palaeontology and discover answers to pressing
palaeontological questions in this fun and informative session. Once introductions are complete,
the students will learn how fossils are formed, the many different types of fossils there are,
and the characteristics of dinosaurs. The session will highlight Canada’s rich fossil heritage,
focusing on the world-famous Alberta badlands and Dinosaur Provincial Park. This session
is a must as it will provide the background required for the second and third sessions.
Homeschooling Learning Outcomes
• Understand the physical world, ecology, and the diversity of life
• Know the history and geography of Canada and have a general
understanding of world history and geography
• Demonstrate competence in using information technologies
• Know how to work independently and as part of a team
Content
• Introduce palaeontology
• Examine the process of fossilization
• Differentiate between fossil types
• Learn the features that define a dinosaur
• Investigate the fossil collection at the RTMP
• Learn the features (geologic and historic) that contributed to Alberta’s fossil heritage
SESSION 2 – FROM DIG TO DISPLAY
Students take on the role of our Museum’s Directors as they work together to take a fossil
“From Dig to Display.” This session highlights the numerous careers available in museum
sciences and how important cooperation and communication are in today’s workforce.
Working as part of our Directorial Team, students will join Dr. François Therrien, curator
of Dinosaur Palaeoecology, in the field. They will learn about the roles of management
in visitor satisfaction and exhibit creation, and the regulations that protect fossils in Alberta.
Homeschooling Learning Outcomes
• Understand the physical world, ecology, and the diversity of life
• Demonstrate critical and creative thinking skills in problem solving and decision making
• Know how to work independently and as part of a team
Content
• Introduce various careers in museology
• Explore inter-office cooperation and communication
• Learn about the process of palaeontological fieldwork; specifically the excavation,
transportation, and preparation of fossils
• Design and create an exhibit for a fossil
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SESSION 3 – CRETACEOUS MINDS
Fossils can teach us many things about ancient animals and the environments they lived in,
but how do palaeontologists interpret this evidence? In “Cretaceous Minds” students will
explore Alberta’s Dinosaur Provincial Park and use fossils and rocks found at this site to solve
the mystery of a mass dinosaur graveyard. They will harness their critical thinking skills
to assess the fossil site, identify the dinosaurs present, and determine how they met their
demise using the scientific method.
Homeschooling Learning Outcomes
• Use mathematics to solve problems in business, science, and daily life situations
• Understand the physical world, ecology, and the diversity of life
• Demonstrate critical and creative thinking skills in problem solving and decision making
• Know how to work independently and as part of a team
Content
• Use critical thinking and problem solving skills to explore the history of an Alberta
dinosaur bonebed
• Assess quantitative data and use simple mathematics
• Learn how fossils are used to investigate the habitats and habits of ancient animals
• Differentiate between types of sedimentary rocks
• Understand what sedimentary rocks can teach us about ancient environments
Workbook Overview
Our Experience Palaeontology program includes a workbook, which was developed to expand
learning opportunities for students and to allow them to engage with the course at a level
that best suits their learning styles.
• In-session activities allow students to follow along with the program
and provide proof of participation.
• Post-session activities provide additional learning opportunities on a variety of subjects
and encourage students to continue exploring topics introduced during sessions in ways
that best suit them and their grade level.
• Our Director for a Day materials enhance the programming of Session 2: From Dig to Display.
These materials and activities provide information on our Museum’s mandate, organization,
and employees, allowing for further exploration outside of the course.
Key Terms
Palaeontology – the study of ancient life on Earth based on the fossil record.
Fossil – the remains, traces, or imprint of a prehistoric organism preserved in rock.
Permineralization – a type of fossilization in which minerals are deposited into the pore
spaces of the originally hard parts of organisms.
Geology – the scientific study of origin, history, and structure of the Earth.
Geologic Time – interval of time occupied by the Earth’s geologic history
Mesozoic – the era between the Palaeozoic and Cenozoic eras, comprising the Triassic,
Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods.
Dinosaur – extinct reptile that lived 230 – 66 million years ago and lived only on land.
Ranged from the size of a chicken to the largest animal ever known to walk on Earth.
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Recommended Reading
There is no required reading for this course outside of the materials provided; however,
we have included a list of reference material to expand your learning opportunities.
Recommended for a general audience
Dinosaurs: The most complete, up-to-date encyclopedia for dinosaur lovers of all ages –
Holtz, Thomas R.
Dinosaurs: The science behind the stories – Scotchomoor, Judith G.; Breithaupt, Brent H.;
Springer, Dale A.; Fiorillo, Anthony R.
The Handy Dinosaur Answer Book – Svarney, Thomas E.; Barnes-Svarney, Patricia
Recommended scientific resources
Dinosaur Country: Unearthing the Alberta Badlands – Gross, Renie
Dinosaur Provincial Park: A spectacular ancient ecosystem revealed – Currie, Phillip J.;
Koppelhus, Eva B.
The Complete Dinosaur – Farlow, James O., Brett-Surman, M.K.
Online Resources
Alberta’s Historical Resources Act http://www.tyrrellmuseum.com/research/fossils_law.htm
American Museum of Natural History
http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/permanent-exhibitions/fossil-halls
BBC Science & Nature http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/prehistoric_life/dinosaurs/
Bristol University http://palaeo.gly.bris.ac.uk/
The Discovery Channel http://dsc.discovery.com/tv-shows/curiosity/topics/paleontology.htm
National Geographic http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/prehistoric/
Natural History Museum
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/life/dinosaurs-other-extinct-creatures/dino-directory/index.html
PBS.org: evolution http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/extinction/dinosaurs/
Smithsonian Institute http://paleobiology.si.edu/
ScienceDaily: palaeontology http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/fossils_ruins/paleontology/
University of California, Berkeley http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/diapsids/dinosaur.html
Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paleontology
Links to Other Websites
Links to websites are provided solely for your convenience. The Royal Tyrrell Museum does not endorse,
authorize, approve, certify, maintain, or control these external Internet addresses and does not guarantee
the accuracy, completeness, efficacy or timeliness of the sites listed.
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