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On an imaginary fossil hunt, learners "find" (remove from envelope) paper "fossils" of some unknown creature, only a few at a time. Each time, they attempt to reconstruct the creature, and each time their interpretation tends to change as new pieces are "found." Use this as an introduction to the nature of science inquiry -- scientists don't always have all the information, scientists must form interpretations of the information, scientists must work together to come to consensus about interpretations.
- 10 to 30 minutes
- 10 to 30 minutes
- 1 cent - $1 per group of students
- Ages 8 - 18
- Activity, Lesson/Lesson Plan
- English
Quick Guide
Materials List (per group of students)
Subjects
-
Earth and Space Science
-
Earth's History
- Fossils
-
Earth's History
-
Life Sciences
-
Diversity of Life
- Animals
-
Evolution
- Evidence for Evolution
- History of Life
-
Diversity of Life
-
The Nature of Science
-
The Scientific Process
- The Scientific Worldview
- About Inquiry
- Asking Questions
- Conducting Investigations
- Gathering Data
- Formulating Explanations
- Communicating Results
- Science as a Career
-
The Scientific Process
Audience
To use this activity, learners need to:
- see
- hear
- touch
Learning styles supported:
- Involves teamwork and communication skills
- Involves hands-on or lab activities
Other
Components that are part of this resource:
- Narrative and Worksheet
- Fossil Sheet (S. crassirostris)
- Skeletal Resource Manual
- Fossil Sheet Alternate (Pakicetus)
This resource is part of:
Access Rights:
- Free access
By:
- Rendak, Steve ; Kimmel, Michael
Rights:
- All rights reserved, Evolution & the Nature of Science Institutes (ENSI), 1999