This is a partially developed activity description. It is included in the collection because it contains ideas useful for teaching even though it is incomplete.

Back in Time

Authors: Ralph Willoughby, David Kendrick, David Sunderlin, Tom Olszewski

Activity Description

Each student or group is assigned a taxonomic group. Students proceed backwards in time through the samples on display in the museum finding examples from their taxonomic group. Each group uses the fossils on display in the museum to determine when the group was prevalent and to track patterns/features in its taxonomic group that are the same from time period to time period and those that are different. After the trip back in time each student or group guides the class forward through time showing the major/interesting features of that taxonomic group that can be seen in the specimens on display in the museum.

Learning Goals

  • Each student or group is assigned a taxonomic group. Students proceed backwards in time through the samples on display in the museum finding examples from their taxonomic group. Each group uses the fossils on display in the museum to determine when the group was prevalent and to track patterns/features in its taxonomic group that are the same from time period to time period and those that are different. After the trip back in time each student or group guides the class forward through time showing the major/interesting features of that taxonomic group that can be seen in the specimens on display in the museum.

Assessment