Activity for the Museum of the Earth in Ithaca, New York

Richard Kendrick, SUNY Cortland, Richard.Kendrick@cortland.edu

Summary

This is an in-depth assignment to explore and write about the history of life as represented at the Museum of the Earth at the Paleontological Research Institution in Ithaca, New York. Students will examine several facets of paleontology: paleoecology, paleoclimate, geologic time, and mass extinctions.

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Context

Audience

This assignment is appropriate for introductory paleontology- or geology- related courses for non-majors, and any more advanced courses.

Skills and concepts that students must have mastered

Students must have a basic knowledge of geologic time and the history of life.

How the activity is situated in the course

This activity functions as a stand-alone exercise appropriate after the above topics have been covered in class meetings.

Goals

Content/concepts goals for this activity

The goals of this activity are to deepen students' understanding of geologic time and major events in the history of life. They will choose a span of 4 million years to focus on and interpret for the rest of the class.

Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity

Students will need to analyze and compare two representations of the same information. They will also interpret the reasoning and motivation which resulted in the representations presented.

Other skills goals for this activity

Students will use observational, writing, and presenting skills to complete the activity.

Description and Teaching Materials

Students are asked to select 4 million years of the past based on four panels from the art installation Rock of Ages, Sands of Time at the Museum of the Earth. The assignment suggests making the selection based on images in the book of the same name by Barbara Page and Warren D. Allmon which depicts the panels. If the book cannot be made available, students may choose once they arrive at the Museum, use their existing knowledge, or be assigned time-spans.
Activity for Museum of the Earth (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 16kB Mar3 14)



Teaching Notes and Tips

This activity will require students to travel to the Museum of the Earth. They are asked then to present their findings at a class meeting.

Assessment

References and Resources

Rock of Ages, Sands of Time
Paintings by Barbara Page, Text by Warren Allmon
University Of Chicago Press; 1 edition (June 1, 2001)
This book illustrates and interprets Barbara Page's art installation of the same name at the Museum of the Earth.