US Geological Survey
Usgs: Geologic Time
This large U.S. Geological Survey site offers a look at the age of the earth, how radiometric dating is used to calculate it, the major divisions of geologic time, and the classification and use of fossils.
University of Oxford (UK)
Oxford University Museum of Natural History: The Learning Zone: Fossils
This excellent website walks students through the basics of understanding fossils. It emphasizes that most common fossils would be invertebrates and, after learning more about these life forms, students can choose to take a quiz. The...
Other
One Geology Kids: Fossils
Learn about fossils in this colorful and easy to read site. Aimed at elementary age students, find out how fossils were formed, the different kinds and sizes, where located, their importance, and more.
American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History: O Logy: Fighting Dinos: New Discoveries
A virtual investigation surmising how two fighting dinosaurs died in the Gobi Desert.
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Building the Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is an excellent model for learning about Earth's rock formations. Students will look at fossils and the differences in layers to understand how the Earth changed over time. Resources included are detailed instructions...
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of Natural History: Paleobiology: Green River Fossil Collections
Search the collection of 35,000 fossiliferous rocks found within the Green River Formation of Colorado and Utah. View some of these 50 million year old insect fossils in a linked slide show.
Natural History Museum
Natural History Museum: Types of Fossils
This particular site is part of a larger online exhibit from the Natural History Museum covering various aspects of fossils and fossil research. Here, seven types of fossils are listed and each type is given a picture representation.
University of Kentucky
Kentucky Geological Survey: How Is Coal Formed?
Describes the evolution of dead plant matter into coal.
Other
American Coal Foundation: Lesson Plan: Coal Formation
In this four-part lesson, students will conduct a simulation of the coal formation process and will show the ability to do scientific inquiry. For the final project, they will use their findings they have recorded on their "Coal Fossil...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Clues to Ancient Life
A learning module that begins with "Clues to Ancient Life" by Rona Arato, accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. The text can be printed as a PDF or assigned online through free teacher...
Enchanted Learning
Enchanted Learning: Zoom Dinosaurs
Zoom Dinosaurs is a comprehensive on-line hypertext book about dinosaurs. It is designed for students of all ages and levels of comprehension. It has an easy-to-use structure that allows readers to start at a basic level on each topic,...
Museums Victoria
Museum Victoria: Pseudofossils: Concretions and Dendrites
Pseudofossils are materials that are sometimes mistaken for fossils. They include concretions and dendrites, described here.
Read Works
Read Works: Monster of the North
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about the skeleton of a plesiosaur, a giant sea monster, found by scientists near the North Pole. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
BBC
Bbc: Gcse Bitesize: Evolution Aqa
Evolution is the change of inherited characteristics within a population over time through natural selection, which may result in the formation of a new species. Fossils provide a record of organisms that lived a long time ago. They also...
Natural History Museum
Natural History Museum: Fossil Folklore
Under the expansive online exhibit from the Natural History Museum on fossils, this site examines a series of myths associated with fossils including topics on monkeys, snakes, serpents, monsters, and more.
Maryland Science Center
Maryland Science Center: Stomach Stones [Pdf]
In this simple activity, you will learn about the stomach stones, or gastroliths, that aided the digestion of some dinosaurs.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Evidence for Evolution
Explore the evidence for evolution: anatomy, molecular biology, biogeography, fossils, & direct observation.
Orca Book Publishers
Orca Book Publishers: Dinosaurs on the Beach Teaching Guide [Pdf]
Dinosaurs on the Beach, a novel written by Marilyn Helmer, looks at a child's search for fossils on a beach in Nova Scotia. This teacher's guide includes a book summary, teaching ideas and the author's reflections on writing the book.
US Geological Survey
U.s. Geological Survey: Mud Fossils
Two part lesson allows for students to observe real fossils then make and recover their own fossils using mud.
Science Struck
Science Struck: The Meaning of Index Fossils Explained
Explains the importance of index fossils for the dating and chronology of events in the fossil and geological records. Discusses uses and examples of index fossils in the Cenozoic, Mesozoic, and Paleozoic Eras.
Indiana University
Indiana University Bloomington: Fossil Origami [Pdf]
A foldable that students can make and use to question others about the names of eight fossils found in Indiana. The foldable is in the format of a 'fortune-teller.'
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Fun With Fossils
Fourth graders examine several fossil samples as they analyze different ways these fossils formed using both real samples and an interactive web page.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Life Science: Fossils
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Fossils are the preserved remains of animals, plants, and other organisms from the distant past. By studying fossils, evidence for evolution is revealed....