Unearthing the Past: An Introduction to Paleontology

Unearthing the Past:

An Introduction to Paleontology

Paleontology:

The study of ancient life through fossils. Paleontologists use fossils to understand the history of life on Earth, including the evolution of species and the impact of environmental changes.
Fossils can provide valuable insights into past ecosystems, climate conditions, and the behavior of extinct organisms.

Paleontology: The Study of Fossils

It involves excavating, analyzing, and interpreting the remains of ancient organisms. By examining fossils, paleontologists can reconstruct past environments, track evolutionary changes, and uncover the origins of species.

• Excavating fossils

• Analyzing remains

• Interpreting ancient life

Fossils can't tell us everything.
While fossils reveal what ancient living things looked like, they keep us guessing about their color, sounds, and most of their behavior.

Multiple Choice

What is paleontology?

• The study of ancient organisms

• The study of modern organisms

• The study of rocks and minerals

• The study of weather patterns

The History of Paleontology

• It began in the 18th century with the discovery of extinct animals.

• Early paleontologists include Georges Cuvier and Mary Anning.

  • Mary Anning discovered many important fossils in the 19th century. Paleontology helps us unravel the mysteries of our planet's past.

• Advancements in technology have revolutionized the field.

• Today, paleontologists use radiometric dating and genetic analysis to uncover the past.

Open Ended

Google paleontologist. Find one that interests you and share what you learned

Paleontological Tools

• Excavation Tools: Brushes, picks, shovels, and sieves are used to carefully remove sediment and uncover fossils.

• Field Equipment: GPS, cameras, and measuring tools help document and map fossil sites accurately.

• Laboratory Tools: Microscopes, chisels, and acid baths aid in cleaning, preparing, and analyzing fossils.

Paleontological Discoveries

• Important fossils have been discovered that provide insights into the history of life on Earth.

• Contributions from paleontologists have helped shape our understanding of evolution and ancient ecosystems.

• Excavations have revealed fossils of dinosaurs, early humans, and extinct species.

• Scientific advancements in dating techniques and technology have improved our ability to study and interpret fossils.

Multiple Choice

Which tools are used to carefully remove sediment and uncover fossils?

• Brushes, picks, shovels, and sieves

• GPS, cameras, and measuring tools

• Microscopes, chisels, and acid baths

• Hammers, screwdrivers, and wrenches

Open Ended

Google tools of paleontology and share the most interesting one you find. Add a picture

Paleontology Fun Facts:

• The first dinosaur bones were discovered in the 19th century.

• While whales are the largest animals to have ever lived, they evolved from pig-like animals in Pakistan, some 50 MYA.

• There is a real paleontologist named David Schwimmer, who has absolutely no relation to the actor David Schwimmer, who plays a paleontologist on the TV show Friends.

• Woolly Mammoths went extinct 1000 years AFTER the great pyramids of Egypt were built.

• The average T. rex tooth is larger than a banana.

• While humans are now the most dominant species on the planet, our ancestors were preyed on by birds similar to eagles.

Open Ended

Share a fossil that changed how we view history. Add a picture

Click the link below and play each level of the game.
(easy, medium, and hard)



https://www.amnh.org/explore/ology/paleontology/layers-of-time2