Make sure that the students understand the difference between geographic and geologic map. These are different maps of the same area. This can be demonstrated by cutting the maps apart, overlapping them, and holding them in front of a window. The city names and roads on both maps will line up. The decision of where to search for fossils is based on information on both maps.
Luck plays a part in finding fossils, but research and hard work play a larger role.
The expedition team uses geographic maps, geologic maps, and scientific reports to decide where to look for dinosaur fossils in Niger. The team uses this kind of map to plan campsites and vehicle routes. A geologic maps shows the ages and kinds of rock that form the surface of the land. The team uses geologic maps to find rocks that formed during the dinosaur era. Geologists have mapped each distinct rock layer and have given each layer a different color and letter symbol.