UC Berkeley
Grade Level(s):
- 13-16
Source:
- UC Museum of Paleontology
Resource type:
- Online activity or lab
Time: 2 hours
Overview
This activity (suitable for distance learning) is designed to introduce students to the nature and process of science through the discovery of mass extinctions in the fossil record. Students will explore the fossil record of brachiopods and bivalves using the Paleobiological Database, identify patterns in their data, and generate and evaluate hypotheses. They will also document this process using the Understanding Science flowchart. Clicking the link above will download the Word file for this lesson.
- [History of life: Grades 13-16] Life forms of the past were in some ways very different from living forms of today, but in other ways very similar.
- [History of life: Grades 13-16] Rates of extinction vary.
- [History of life: Grades 13-16] Mass extinctions occur.
- [History of life: Grades 13-16] Extinction can result from environmental change.
- [Evidence of evolution: Grades 13-16] The fossil record provides evidence for evolution.
- [Evidence of evolution: Grades 13-16] The fossil record documents the biodiversity of the past.
- [Evidence of evolution: Grades 13-16] The fossil record documents patterns of extinction and the appearance of new forms.
- [Nature of science: Grades 13-16] Scientists can test ideas about events and processes long past, very distant, and not directly observable.
- [Nature of science: Grades 13-16] The real process of science is complex, iterative, and can take many different paths.
- [Studying evolution: Grades 13-16] Scientists use fossils (including sequences of fossils showing gradual change over time) to learn about past life.
There are no NGSS/DCI concepts currently linked to this resource.
There are currently no teaching tips for this resource.