Curated OER
Fantastic Fossil
Students discuss the discovery of a transitional animal, Tiktaalik, and its impact on the theory of evolution. They research theories of evolution and creationism.
Biology Junction
Archaeopteryx - Ancestor to Birds
In this biology instructional activity, high schoolers label and color the different parts of an archaeopteryx. They complete a table with information about this bird.
Curated OER
Fossils-Where Should We Place Archaeopteryx?
Students explore an interactive computer activity that provides the opportunity to look at features of various groups of animals and determine where an extinct organism might be classified.
University of California
Ucmp: The Evolution of Flight in Birds
Evidence from the fossil record is used to support bird evolution from small carnivorous dinosaurs. In the student module, feathers, behavior, and skeletal structure are examined in an interactive lesson designed to impart a complete...
PBS
Pbs: The Life of Birds
Online companion to the PBS program "The Life of Birds." In-depth look at certain behaviors of birds, the evolution of birds, birds as parents, and bird songs.
University of California
Ucmp: Are Birds Really Dinosaurs?
A great essay that illustrates how science is done as well as the relationship between dinosaurs and modern birds. Includes a picture to illustrate this concept, and contains many links to related sites.
Talk Origins Archive
Talk Origins: All About Archaeopteryx
Good site which appears to take an unbiased approach to examining the wealth of evidence about the origins of birds. Provides tons of information about specimens, features, feather development, and more.
American Institute of Biological Sciences
Action Bioscience: Evidence of Evolutionary Transitions
Charles Darwin's theory that all living organisms are connected in some way has been confirmed through intense studies over centuries. Understand the similarities that bond all things living to the same family tree by checking out this...
Read Works
Read Works: Dig This!
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about learning history by studying fossils and rocks. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Kidport
Kidport: Reference Library: Dinosaurs
A nicely illustrated and informative site on dinosaurs from the Cambrian period until the Quaternary period.
Curated OER
Artists Impression of the Oldest Known Bird, Archaeopteryx
NPR reports on new research about the oldest known bird, Archaeopteryx. A new study of a fossilized brain cavity suggests it was well-equipped to fly.
Curated OER
A 147 Million Year Old Archaeopteryx Fossil.
NPR reports on new research about the oldest known bird, Archaeopteryx. A new study of a fossilized brain cavity suggests it was well-equipped to fly.