Fossils in the Classroom
In 2009, the Colorado Department of Education adopted new state Colorado Academic Standards, and for the first time, the study of fossils was specifically included. Unfortunately, there were few resources for teachers available to address this new standard.
The Fossils in the Classroom project was developed to fill this void, and connects the work of CU Faculty researchers with teachers and students in communities throughout Colorado that need resources and expertise on fossils for the classroom. Investigations in the kits have students observing, using measuring tools, predicting, recording, describing, and comparing observations and results from their work to that of the work of other students and to the work of paleontologists and biologists. Topics in the kits include fossilization, geologic time, paleo-environments, climate change, marine environments, and fossil track ways.
Follow the links on the menu to the left to find more information about the Fossils in the Classroom project resources and teaching materials.
The Fossils in the Classroom Project is developed for Colorado School Districts by:
Jaelyn Eberle, Ph.D. – Associate Professor, Geological Sciences, and Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology, University of Colorado Museum of Natural History, Boulder, CO
Dena Smith, Ph.D. – Associate Professor, Geological Sciences, and Curator of Invertebrate Paleontology, University of Colorado Museum of Natural History, Boulder, CO
Toni Culver – Vertebrate Paleontology Collection Manager, University of Colorado Museum of Natural History, Boulder, CO
Talia Karim, Ph.D. – Invertebrate Paleontology Collection Manager, University of Colorado Museum of Natural History, Boulder, CO
Jim Hakala – Senior Educator, University of Colorado Museum of Natural History, Boulder, CO
Cathy Regan, Ph.D. – Education Coordinator, University of Colorado Museum of Natural History, Boulder, CO
Erin Leckey – Doctoral Candidate, Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
With assistance from graduate students in the Museum and Field Studies program of the University of Colorado: Debbie Wagner, Taormina Lepore, Karen Malone, Robert Rutherford, Kathy Hollis, Jessica Holm, and Samantha Sands; And undergraduate students at the University of Colorado, Boulder: Greg Walth, Ben Barishman, KZ Mendoza, and Megan Collins.
This project is generously supported by the CU-Boulder Outreach Committee and the University of Colorado Museum of Natural History.
To find out how to get a fossil kit, curriculum, or paleo poster for your classroom or school, arrange an in-district teacher training, and/or a presentation for your classroom, please contact Jim Hakala, Senior Educator, University of Colorado Museum of Natural History at 303-492-4458, or james.hakala@colorado.edu
Visit the University of Colorado Museum of Natural History's Paleontology Section's web site here:
http://cumuseum.colorado.edu/Research/Paleo/index.html
