Fossils are our only clues to life in the past. They help us learn about how things have changed though time. Fossils are like a photograph of an animal at a particular point in the history of the Earth. Connect this to pictures of their great grandparents to make a connection for the children. You have already seen pictures of some fossils and you probably already know that fossils can be animals, plants, shells, bones, or even eggs.
Dinosaurs are the most popular fossils.
Fossils help us understand what kinds of environments existed millions of years ago. The people who study these fossils are called paleontologists. Show students an already prepared container with a clay fossil under sand. Then dig up your fossil to simulate finding fossils. Return to the KWL chart.