University of California
Ucmp: Explorations Through Time: Getting Into the Fossil Record
This interactive activity is part of a series of modules that investigate the history of life on Earth. Students will understand the basics of fossils and how they form after completing this activity. Teacher guide and lesson plans...
Talk Origins Archive
Talk Origins: The Hominid Species
Talk Origins gives a broad description of the types of Hominid species, and then gives a description of each species. Includes the specific characteristics of each, and explains the differences between the species.
PBS
Pbs Teachers: In Search of Human Origins, Part I: Classroom Activity
This lesson plan allows students to identify and plot the locations of important African finds in the search for early human remains.
Other
Virtual Fossil Museum: Fossils Across Geological Time and Evolution
Learn about fossils throughout geological time. Includes images of different types of fossils.
Other
Hans' Paleobotany Pages
A good site discussing the history of fossil plants, including oldest land plants and links to related topics.
Other
Plant Fossils of West Virginia
Has great diagrams of plant fossils as well as some general information on prehistoric plants.
Other
Louisiana Petrified Wood
A detailed article about the petrified wood which is found in Louisiana.
Other
Neanderthal Flute
Site provides information on the investigation of the Neanderthal flute that was found.
Other
Bio Web Evolution: Homepage
This site from BioWeb Evolution was originally created as a ThinkQuest entry, and it has some good basic information about evolution. This page is on fossils and geologic time.
Other
Fossil Fun: Plant Fossils
A brief site that explains how plant fossils let us know what the weather and temperature was long ago. Text is supplemented with photographs.
Treehut
Suzy's World: What Is a Fossil?
This site, which is a personal site from Suzy's World by Suzy Cato, explores fossils. Find out some basic facts about fossils, including who studies them and what they are made of. A fun experiment is also included.
Science Daily
Science Daily: Discovery of New Fossils in Gobi Desert
Internet science magazine ScienceDaily discusses fossils found in the Gobi desert, even dinosaur fossils.
Discovery Education
Discovery Education: The Fossil Record
This lesson plan explores the fossils of animals that lived in the ancient oceans such as in the area now known as the Burgess Shale in the western Canadian Rocky Mountains.
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Fossils: Lesson 2
This lesson provides a timeline of fossils while also discussing the different types, locations, and geology of various fossils. It is 2 of 6 in the series titled "Fossils."
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Fossils: Lesson 4
This lesson provides a timeline of fossils while also discussing the different types, locations, and geology of various fossils. It is 4 of 6 in the series titled "Fossils."
EL Education
El Education: Get a Clue
This nonfiction children's book was created by 1st grade students at the Genesee Valley Community Charter School in Rochester, New York, as part of a learning expedition on fossils and local geological history. The expedition consisted...
Seeker
Seeker: 142 Million Year Old Dino Footprints Found
Article reports on the discovery of two fossilized dinosaur footprints in Germany and what researchers have been able to learn from the find.
Utah Education Network
Uen: Investigation 2 Simulating Fossil Formation
This lesson plan includes directions for 5 different activities for making a variety of fossil types. The fossils included in all five activities are casts, petrification fossils, imprints and preserved fossils. The labs require a number...
Canadian Museum of Nature
Canadian Museum of Nature: Dinosaurs: Archaeopteryx Lithographica
Is it a feathered dinosaur, or the ancestor of birds? Find out about the Archaeopteryx lithographica whose fossil remains show feathers similar to that of a bird, and whose skeleton resembles that of a dinosaur.
American Geosciences Institute
American Geosciences Institute: What Is a Fossil?
A brief summary and definition of what fossils are.
American Geosciences Institute
American Geosciences Institute: Under What Conditions Do Fossils Form?
Learn about the conditions required for fossils to form naturally.
American Geosciences Institute
American Geosciences Institute: How Do Paleontologists Identify Fossils?
Learn about the methods that paleontologists use to identify fossils.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Biology: Fossils
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Describes how fossils help us understand the past.
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Fossils
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart introduces students to the different types of fossils.