Professional Documents
Culture Documents
0. Standard(s)
NGSS:
Standard: MS-LS4-1: Analyze and interpret data for patterns in the fossil record that document
the existence, diversity, extinction, and change of life forms throughout the history of life on Earth
under the assumption that natural laws operate today as in the past.
- Evidence of Common Ancestry and Diversity: The collection of fossils and their placement in
chronological order (e.g., through the location of the sedimentary layers in which they are
found or through radioactive dating) is known as the fossil record. It documents the existence,
diversity, extinction, and change of many life forms throughout the history of life on Earth.
Crosscutting Concept
assumes that objects and events in natural systems occur in consistent patterns that are
Standard - 3.1.7.C3: CONSTANCY AND CHANGE: Identify evidence drawn from geology,
fossils, and comparative anatomy that provides the basis for the theory of evolution.
- Eligible Content - S7.D.1.1.2: Explain how fossils are formed..
The student will be able to… Design/Plan for each Assessment (when applicable)
objective
1. … correctly identify and define body, Kahoot! and the Automatic Feedback Unit Test
trace, mold, cast, and carbonized fossils, Interactive Student from Kahoot! and online
given today’s lesson. Notetaker submission of the
notetaker
2. … accurately match the fossil to their Interactive Student Teacher observation and
correct type, given photographs. Notetaker online submission of the
notetaker
Teacher:
Students:
- Computer
i. Recognize that fossils provide us with information about living things that inhabited the Earth
long ago.
b. Key Vocabulary
iii. cast - a fossil copy of an organism made when a mold of the organism is filled with sediment or
mineral deposits
iv. body fossils - formed from the remains of dead animals and plants. Most are made of hard parts
v. trace fossils - the preserved evidence of the activity of an organism. Includes tracks, footprints,
and nests.
vi. carbonized fossils - a thin, approximately two-dimensional films of carbon preserved on a flat
surface of rock.
i. The student will be able to identify the five different types of fossils.
ii. The student will be able to match the fossil to their correct type, given photographs.
IV. Implementation
A. Introduction
1. Hook
- Project a would you rather game on the board for when the students walk into the
- Go through all four would you rather questions with the class, all that involve
dinosaurs.
- Have the students move to the side of the room that their choice is on
the whiteboard.
- Tell the students that there is a connection between plate tectonics and our new topic,
- Allow for two to four students to share their prior knowledge of the
- The plate tectonics theory explains the existence of fossil marine life in rocks atop
mountains as resulting from the uplifting of the plate during continental collisions.
B. Development
- Introduce the new topic by asking the students what they think a fossil is. (Google Slide #4)
- Explain to the students that fossils are the preserved remains or evidence of ancient living
things.
- Identify the five new types of fossils we are going to discuss throughout the lesson, to the students.
- Instruct the students to open their chromebooks, and to log on to their Science Google Classroom.
- Tell them that there should be an assignment labeled as Fossil Formation Interactive
Notetaker.
- Inform them that this will be their notetaker for the lesson, and will be submitted before
- Ask the students what they think a body fossil is. (Google Slide #6)
- Tell the students two fun facts about body fossils. (Google Slide #8)
- Ask the students what they think a trace fossil is. (Google Slide #9)
- Tell the students two fun facts about trace fossils. (Google Slide #11)
- Inform the class that they will now have two to three minutes to complete the first concept check
- Ask the students what they think a mold fossil is. (Google Slide #13)
- Tell the students two fun facts about mold fossils. (Google Slide #15)
- Ask the students what they think a cast fossil is. (Google Slide #16)
- Tell the students two fun facts about cast fossils. (Google Slide #18)
- Ask the students what they think a carbonized fossil is. (Google Slide #19)
- Tell the students two fun facts about carbonized fossils. (Google Slide #21)
- Inform the class that they will now have two to three minutes to complete the second concept
C. Closure
- Instruct the class to log on to Kahoot! for their closing activity. (Google Slide #23)
- Explain that now that we know about the five different types of fossils we are going to have a
1. Differentiation Plan
- Provide a word bank for the students who are striving learner with, subject-specific,
academic vocabulary.
- Allow for time at the end of class to meet with students who haven’t exactly grasped the
- Allow for students who are accelerated learners, in the topic, to share examples of what
the different kind of fossils could look like, to their table team or even the class.
2. Accommodations Plan
Section 601:
- YC (Attention Deficit) - have regular “concept checks” throughout the lesson to keep the
Section 602:
- HH (handwriting) - give more space for student to write down their thoughts, and to show
- JC (Attention Deficit) - have regular “concept checks” throughout the lesson to keep the
Section 603:
- DA, OP (ID) - use a combination of written, verbal, and pictorial instructions when
- OS, DZ (OHI - ADHD) - Have regular “concept checks” throughout the lesson to keep
- DA, SC, LD, NF, EP, DR, SR (ESL - Level 1) - provide native language supports, use of
Section 604:
- YC (SLD) - Check in frequently to make sure the student understands the work
- CA, JB, RD, LM (ESL - Level 1) - provide native language supports, use of visuals, and
V. Reflective Response:
(Reflection on student success written after lesson is taught, includes remediation for students who
Students were able to successfully match pictures of example fossils with the type of fossil that is was
through the t-chart tables that were embedded within the interactive student notetaker. Students then
were able to come to the board and move the images into where they felt they belong within the t-chart,
we then asked the class if they agreed or disagreed with the placements.
(Questions written before lesson is taught. Reflective answers to questions recorded after lesson is
taught.)
1. How well did the interactive student notetaker allow for students to comprehend the
material better, allowing for more time for the student to pay attention to content
Section 602:
The interactive student notetaker was a good tool for the students to use after I explained how to
use it and what notes from the slides got put on it. After teaching this lesson, I went back into the
google slides and highlighted what I wanted them to copy down, to allow for more time to explain
2. How was my classroom management throughout the lesson, given the fact that the students
Section 602:
My classroom management was went well during the hook activity because I set clear
expectations in the beginning, that if students shoved each other, ran, or pushed that we would sit
down and just raise our hands. Most students did not take advantage of the fact that the notes
required them to be on the computer for the duration of the class, and paid attention, answering
3. How well was I able to accommodate for spanish speaking students and the teaching aid
Sections 603/604:
My accommodations for native language speakers were used in a co-teaching method. Where I
told the students the material in English, while the paraprofessional told the students the material
in Spanish. This worked throughout the lesson, with slight disruptions throughout the lesson by
students who completed their notes for the specific slide before the rest were able to copy it down,
4. How well did the hook grab the attention of the class?
All sections: For the first two sections many didn’t know what a mammoth was so I added