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.
US Geological Survey
Index Fossils
If you need examples of index fossils for each of the geologic eras and periods, than this resource is for you. Diagrams of the index fossils and their scientific names are also provided.
Other
Fossil Facts and Finds
A site devoted to fossils! Click on any of the main topics to access information regarding what fossils are, how they are formed, fossil collecting, student activities, fossil hunting, and even lesson plans.
Other
The Paleontology Portal: Fossil Gallery
An image gallery of fossils through time. Students choose a time period to see what life was like by studying the fossils.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: Earth History and Clues From Fossils Study Guide
This comprehensive study guide covers the main terms and concepts needed for an earth science unit on what we can learn about the early earth from fossils. Review questions are included at the bottom of the study guide.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: Earth History and Clues From Fossils
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] How scientists can learn information about the past from fossils.
University of California
Ucmp: Getting Into the Fossil Record
A learning module where students tour the fossil record to learn what fossils are, how organisms become fossils, the factors that promote fossilization, how paleontologists find fossils, and why some organisms cannot be fossilized....
American Geosciences Institute
American Geological Institute: Evolution and the Fossil Record
The American Geological Institute has done an excellent job of defining and explaining evolution in this online booklet. Darwin, fossils, natural selection, and change over time are some of the concepts that are covered. Make sure to see...
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
Denver Museum of Nature and Science: Follow a Fossil
Students examine paleontology, the study of ancient life on Earth. Some topics explored are vertebrates, invertebrates, and plants.
US Geological Survey
Relative Time Scale
This is a good resource for anyone who wants to understand the historical development that led to our understanding of relative dating. This site also has links to index fossils and a table of geologic time.
Curated OER
National Park Service: Agate Fossil Beds: Geologic Formations
This National Park Service site has information about these fossil beds in Nebraska and where the name Agate came from.
Children's Museum
The Children's Museum of Indianapolis: Who Should Own the Bones?
In this dinosaur WebQuest for Grades 6-8, two college students find fossils in a park and try to sell them, discovering it is against the law. Students will examine the positions of people on opposite sides of the argument over the...
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.
Other
Canal Kids: Dinossauros (Dinosaurs), a Era Dos Gigantes
A good introduction to dinosaurs for young Portuguese-speaking children. Uses an engaging writing style, cartoon-style graphics, and animation to teach about the Mesozoic era. Coverage includes types of dinosaurs and their features,...
Other
Illinois State Museum: Mazon Creek Collection Database
Mazon Creek fossils are named for the collecting area in northeastern Illinois where many of the best specimens are found. They are an important source of information about the plants and animals that inhabited this part of North America...
Other
Digital Library for Earth System Education: Teaching Box: Plate Tectonics
A suite of lessons focusing on finding the fossil evidence for lithospheric plate tectonics. Inquiry-based exploration of plate tectonics evidence includes fossil distribution, earthquakes, and volcanoes.
Other
Insightful Interaction: Visualizations
A collection of interactive visualizations that were produced through analysis of economic, political, and market research data. Topics are diverse, e.g., military spending and trade, immigration, consumer spending, crime, unemployment,...
Other
Digital Library for Earth System Education: Changing Sea Level
A suite of lessons lead inquiry-based exploration of melting sea ice and evidence that it is affecting sea level, namely glacial evidence, geologic evidence, fossil evidence, and isotopic evidence.
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: Ap Environmental Science: Energy Use and Energy Sources
This interactive learning module will focus on the fundamentals of energy and energy sources, renewable and nonrenewable, that support the human population. Students will also explore our dependence on nonrenewable fossil fuels to...
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.
University of California
Ucmp: Adventures at Dry Creek
For this lesson, students embark on an adventure to find out what life was like in Montana 60-70 million years ago. Students "join" a research lab to collect fossils from Montana and analyze them to find direct and indirect evidence of...
San Diego Natural History Museum
San Diego Natural History Museum: Dinosaur Dig
The San Diego Natural History Museum provides dinosaur lovers with plenty of information and fun facts with links to Finding Fossils and Dinosaur Bytes.