FOSSIL PROJECT

 

          You have been given a fossil sample dig.  You and your team will excavate your fossil in the same manor archeologists do.  There will be a fossil for each member of your group.  You will use a wooden pick, water, and brush.  Be careful, these fossils can be damaged if you rush and are too heavy handed.  Once you have removed your fossil, clean it up and remove any additional debris.  Bring it to me and I will sign it out to you.  You will have this fossil for the duration of this project.  You will turn it in at the end and I will sign it back in.  (It is numbered)  If you loose this fossil you will be penalized, so be careful!

You will research this fossil and discover it’s history in several ways.  This report will be 3 pages, typewritten, and font not bigger than 14.  There will be a 4th page of at least 4 references.  These references can include the following;

 

Encyclopedia (no more than one)

Magazine/periodical (no more than one)

Internet (no more than one)

Standard references

                                                                Example

Title; My Encyclopedia                                                      Title; Cat Magazine

Publisher; Avery Basset Publications                              Month; September 1, 2003

Year; 2002                                                                              Article Title; “Cats know Digs”

Volume 3, Pg. 412                             Page 32

 

Internet;

Title of webpage; “Archeology in Local Areas”

URL; www;welikedirt.org

·                     printout of 1st page of site attached to report

 

Report

10% - Type of fossil, such as name

10% - Draw and describe your fossil. (This included labels!  This does not replace the 3 pages of written material.)

10% - What type of sedimentary bed was it found in?

10% - Where it would be found geographically. (I know it is in the ground!! I want to know where on a map it could be found!!)

10% - What kind of ecosystem did it come from? (Such as rainforest, taiga, tundra, etc.)

10% - What Era and period did it come from?

10% - Name and describe 3 present day relatives of this fossil.

10% - What theories have been proposed that could have caused this extinction?

10% - Design a “new and improved” version of your fossil that would have prevented its extinction.  Draw this out and describe your changes on separate paper. This is not to replace the 3 pages of written material.)

10% - Compare and contrast your fossil to another in your group.  (This means how it is alike and how it is different.)

100% - test grade