Name: ___________________________ Date: _____________ TI: __________
Playground Mystery
Introduction
You and a group of friends are digging on the playground when one of you notices a rock that has a
shell print. You begin to dig a little further and find another mysterious looking rock. Maybe they are
fossils! Everyone is excited about the discovery but isn’t sure what to do next. So, of course, you run to
tell your teacher.
Task
Mrs. Sharp decided you will need to solve the mystery together (she never just gives you the answers).
As a group of four, you compile a list of questions you have about your mysterious find.
Many FAT questions begin to be asked that need answers so you find a pencil and record your questions
you and your team have on this mysterious rocks below.
To make your research easier you work with four of your classmates so you can divide up the work to
find the answers to your questions. Each member of the team will collect information and help organize
it in a slide show to present your findings.
Process
Your question will need further research. So roles are assigned by your group to help you gather your
needed information. Your team consists of a reporter, an archaeologist, a paleontologist, and a
geologist.
Here are the team tasks to complete to help the team solve the many questions you have.
Role: Reporter





Assists other team members with their tasks.
Organizes information on chart.
Keep team members on task.
Collect all answer sheets and surveying grid from group members to turn into teacher.
Keeps a bibliography of all the sources used by all team members to include at the end of the
slide show.
Role: Paleontologist
You are responsible for answering the following questions:
 What are fossils and what do they look like?
 How are fossils formed?
 How can the age of a fossil be found?
http://www.fossilsforkids.com/
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/education/explorations/tours/fossil/5to8/Intro.html
Role: Archaeologist
You are responsible for answering the following questions:
 How should we go about digging more without harming any other treasures we may find?
 What tools should we use to continue searching?
 What can we learn from fossils about the past?
http://www.fossilsforkids.com/
http://www.amnh.org/ology?channel=paleontology#features/stufftodo_paleo/findfossils.php??Keep/th
is+true&TB_iframe=true&height=500&width=600
http://idahoptv.org/dialogue4kids/archive/agespast.cfm
Role:
Geologist
You are responsible for answering the following questions:
 How do we mark off the area to be searched?
 How do use a grid to plan the surveying of the area?
http://www.counton.org/games/flash/virtualmathfest/dinosaur.swf
http://www.fossilsforkids.com/
http://www.amnh.org/ology/index.php?channel=archaeology#features/bigideas_arch?TB_irframe=true
&height=434&width=750
Use the survey grid to make a plan of how your group would mark off the area to be excavated. Add
illustrations of possible discoveries you may find if you were to actually perform the digging. You must
include all group members in the decisions made to construct the survey grid.
Evaluation
Use the rubric handout to guide your group in the construction of your project. I will use this tool to
evaluate your group work.
Conclusion
You may not know what your mysterious find’s true identity is, but you were sure to learn many
interesting facts about fossils. If you would like to learn more about fossils, check out these links to
continue the fun. Maybe one day you will enter a career that leads to an important disco very about the
past. Happy digging????
State fossils on this link:
http://www.kidskonnect.com/subject-index/15-science/79-fossils.html
Geo Mysteries link:
http://www.childrensmuseum.org/exhibits
More fossils explanations:
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/dinosaurs/dinofossils/index.html
Fossils Webquest Scoring Rubric
Team Member Name: ___________________________
3
Research
Information
Sheets
Information
gather is
complete with
correct facts.
Display
Display is
appealing and
well organized
with all
information
included.
Individual
contributed and
cooperated
throughout
project.
Group
cooperated
throughout
project to remain
on task with no
teacher
intervention.
Individual
Input
Group
Cooperation
2
Information
gathered is lacking
some facts or
includes
misrepresentations.
Display is adequate;
may be missing
some information
1
Information gathered is
lacking several facts
and/or has many
misrepresentations.
Display is unorganized
and lacks much
information.
Individual
Individual failed to work
cooperated with
cooperatively with the
group to contribute group most of the time.
some of the time.
Group cooperated
most of the time
while working on
project with some
teacher
intervention.
Total points earned ________/12
Group was often off task
and had a difficult time
working together
requiring frequent
teacher intervention.
Project Grade ____________
Name: _________________________ Date _______________ HR/BL ___
Fossil Scavenger Hunt
www.fossilsforkids.com
Click on the “question mark.” Find the question you are trying
to answer. Read the information and write your answer on the line.
1. What are fossils? ____________________________________
___________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
2. List 4 places that fossils can be found.
______________________
____________________
______________________
____________________
Click on the “Tools of the Trade”. Read the information below
each tool. List 5 tools that are used to find fossils
_________________________
______________________
_________________________
______________________
_________________________
Click on the “Safety First” link. Write two safety rules to
follow when looking for fossils.
____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Click on the “Now and Then” page to complete the chart
below. Find the picture that goes with the picture below. Then write
what it is now and what it was then.
Picture
Now
Then