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Materials and Resources

The goals for theÌýFossils in the Classroom ProjectÌýare to engage students and teachers in communities across Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ in the study of the ancient prehistory of Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ through hands-on experience with fossil animals and plants that once lived here, and to get students turned on to science through Paleontology (the study of fossil life). Our project goals are addressed through the following activities:

  • Hands-on teaching kits containing real and cast fossils andÌýlessons and lab investigations
  • Training to teachers in their districts on how to best use the kits in their classrooms
  • ´¡ÌýposterÌýfor the classroom featuring photographs of fossils from the Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ Museum’s Paleontology Collection, a Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ map of the geologic age of rocks in Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ and a listing of places to see fossils in Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ

Short videos featuring Senior Educator Jim Hakala and select specimens from the museum’s Paleontology Hall.


Fossil Clues Part One: Hypertragulus
English Closed Captions and American Sign Language


Fossil Clues Part Two: Clams
English Closed Captions and American Sign Language


Fossil Clues Part One: HypertragulusÌý
Spanish Closed Captions


Fossil Clues Part Two: Clams
Spanish Closed Captions


Looking at Dinosaur Teeth Part One: Triceratops
English Closed Captions and American Sign Language


Looking at Dinosaur Teeth Part Two: Hadrosaur
English Closed Captions and American Sign Language


Looking at Dinosaur Teeth Part Three: Torvosaurus
English Closed Captions and American Sign Language


Looking at Dinosaur Teeth Part One: Triceratops
Spanish Closed Captions


Looking at Dinosaur Teeth Part Two: Hadrosaur
Spanish Closed Captions


Looking at Dinosaur Teeth Part Three: Torvosaurus
Spanish Closed Captions

Short videos about fossils formation, preservation, types of fossils, fossil teeth and geologic time. These videos were created by Daniel Griffitts for the University of Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ Museum of Natural History's Fossils in the Classroom project.


How Fossils Form and Fossil Preservation


A Brief Look at Geologic Time


Geologic Time Featuring Fossils from the Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵMNH


A Brief Look at Fossil Teeth


A Brief Look at Trace Fossils