Fossil Identification
This activity is part of the On the Cutting Edge Peer Reviewed Teaching Activities collection.
HideSummary
This activity asks students to identify examples of types of fossils amongst the exhibits at the Museum of the Earth at the Paleontological Research Institution in Ithaca, New York. Students will build on their understanding of the history of life, paleontology, taphonomy, ichnology, and paleoecology--especially reefs.
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Context
Audience
This activity is appropriate for an introductory paleontology, paleobiology, or history of life course.
Skills and concepts that students must have mastered
Students should have a basic understanding of the processes involved in fossilization, trace fossils, reef ecosystems, and related vocabulary. They will need to be able to recognize specimens preserved through different means--mineralization, carbonization, cast/mold, etc.--and to identify members and roles of ancient reef-dwelling organisms.
How the activity is situated in the course
This activity functions as a culminating project or a stand-alone exercise, but students must have covered the above concepts.
Goals
Content/concepts goals for this activity
Students will apply concepts covered in class, particularly taphonomy, to the interpretation of real fossil specimens.
Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity
In addition to identifying specific kinds of fossils, students are asked to analyze and evaluate how information is presented in exhibits.
Other skills goals for this activity
Students will utilize the Museum as a reference, and write about favorite specimens and qualitatively support their choices.