Rocks and Fossils
APRIL AND NANCY
Lesson Plan
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Lesson Plan :
Rocks and Fossils
April Oldebeken and Nancy Endicott
Class: _Physical Science_____ Grade level: ______3rd____
Materials needed:
Shells and silly putty
Chocolate chip cookies and toothpicks
Theory: Describe various rocks and fossils. How are various rocks and fossils formed.
State Guidelines:
ESS.8.3.1 Distinguish among Earth’s Materials: Rocks and Fossils;
ESS.8.3.3. Indentify the three categories of rocks: Metamorphic, Igneous, and sedimentary
Objectives:
Be able to know how rocks and fossils are formed.
Be able to tell the difference between various formations.
Summary: Powerpoint. Two Experiments. Handout (shown on powerpoint).
3 kinds of Rocks
 Three categories of rocks: Metamorphic,
Igneous, and sedimentary.
 Metamorphic is formed by cooking or
(change)altering rock. Rocks can alter their form
and apparant because of new conditions. This is a
slow change that occurs deep in the Earth.
 Igneous means those that form from melt.
 Sedimentary rocks are those that are deposited
from air and/or water.
Metamorphic Rocks
 Metamorphic rocks are changes in the structure
through time in its physical or chemical conditions.
Volcano Rock or Igneous Rock
Rocks that form by the solidification of molten rock material
Sedimentary Rocks
 Rocky fragments and sediments
are deposited by either wind, water or ice and gather over
many years and cement. An example is limestone:
Fossils
What is a Fossil?
 Fossils are the petrified remains of ancient objects.
 Petrified – means turned to stone.
 Ancient – means very, very old.
How do fossils Form?
 Fossilization is an exceptionally rare occurrence,
because most components of formerly-living things
tend to decompose relatively quickly following death.
 In order for an organism to be fossilized, the remains
normally need to be covered by sediment as soon as
possible.
 However there are exceptions to this, such as if an
organism becomes frozen, desicated, or comes to rest
in an anoxic (oxygen-free) environment
How is a Fossil made?
 Like extant organisms, fossils vary in size from microscopic,
such as single bacterial cells only one micrometer in diameter,
to gigantic, such as dinosaurs and trees many meters long and
weighing many tons.
 A fossil normally preserves only a portion of the deceased
organism, usually that portion that was partially mineralized
during life, such as the bones and teeth of vertibrates.
Preservation of soft tissues is rare in the fossil record.
 Fossils may also consist of the marks left behind by the
organism while it was alive, such as the footprint of a reptile.
These types of fossil are called trace fossils as opposed to body
fossils.
 Finally, past life leaves some markers that cannot be seen but
can be detected in the form of biochemical signals; these are
known as chemofossils or biomarkers
Kinds of Fossils
 Fossils can be of animals, plants, or other objects.
 Most of the time we think of dinosaurs when we hear
the word fossil.
Fossil Types
 Body Fossils – preserved body parts of
animal or plant. Ex. Skeleton.
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 Trace Fossils – show ancient activity. Ex.
Stone tool or burrow of a worm
What was it?
Some FOSSILS OF ARKANSAS
Cervical vert of Mosasaurus found in Arkansas
Picture of a Mosasaurus
Encourage to go in your own backyard
 This weekend ask your parent if you can search and
explore your own backyard. Who knows what buried
treasure you may have !!!
 You may find a indian arrowhead. You could find a
imprint of a fossil on a rock or shell. Who knows
maybe even a Mosasaurus !!!
 We will ask you on Monday if you have found
anything.
References
 http://www.childrensmuseum.org/geomysteries/faq
s.html
 http://t4.jordan.k12.ut.us/t4/content/view/1
83/32/
 http://www.childrensmuseum.org/geomyste
ries/faqs.html
 http://www.uen.org/cc/uen/core/pub/displa
yCoreCourse.action?ccId=3040
 http://www.proteacher.com/110023.shtml
Two Experiments
Silly Putty Shell Experiment
And
Chocolate Chip Cookie Experiment