This document contains station cards for an activity where students will take on the role of fossils and answer questions from the perspective of the fossil. There are 8 station cards, each with a picture of a different fossil and the same set of questions for students to consider and answer using provided websites for research. The questions guide students to think about how the fossil was formed, what conditions allowed for fossilization, what the environment was like, and what information scientists can learn from studying the fossil.

1. EXPLORE, Part 1
Station Cards
Ask Fossil # 1
Directions:
Study the following picture. Use the websites to answer the
questions about this fossil.
Picture # 1:
1. What kind of fossil are you?
2. How were you formed? How did it feel to become
fossilized?
3. What conditions made it possible for you to be fossilized?
4. How are you a “window into the past?”
5. What can you tell me about your environment?
6. How did you change during your lifetime? Are you still on
Earth today? Why or why not?
7. What kind of information could scientists find out by
studying you?
Websites to search for information:
http://www.gpc.edu/~pgore/geology/historical_lab/preservationlab.php
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/paleo/fossils/index.html
http://www.zoomschool.com/subjects/dinosaurs/dinofossils/Fossiltypes.html
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8 Grade: Unit 6 Revised 10/27/2011 13

2. EXPLORE, Part 1
Station Cards
Ask Fossil # 2
Directions:
Study the following picture. Use the websites to answer the
questions about this fossil.
Picture # 2:
1. What kind of fossil are you?
2. How were you formed? How did it feel to become
fossilized?
3. What conditions made it possible for you to be fossilized?
4. How are you a “window into the past?”
5. What can you tell me about your environment?
6. How did you change during your lifetime? Are you still on
Earth today? Why or why not?
7. What kind of information could scientists find out by
studying you?
Websites to search for information:
http://www.gpc.edu/~pgore/geology/historical_lab/preservationlab.php
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/paleo/fossils/index.html
http://www.zoomschool.com/subjects/dinosaurs/dinofossils/Fossiltypes.html
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8 Grade: Unit 6 Revised 10/27/2011 14

3. EXPLORE, Part 1
Station Cards
Ask Fossil # 3
Directions:
Study the following picture. Use the websites to answer the
questions about this fossil.
Picture #3
1. What kind of fossil are you?
2. How were you formed? How did it feel to become
fossilized?
3. What conditions made it possible for you to be fossilized?
4. How are you a “window into the past?”
5. What can you tell me about your environment?
6. How did you change during your lifetime? Are you still on
Earth today? Why or why not?
7. What kind of information could scientists find out by
studying you?
Websites to search for information:
http://www.gpc.edu/~pgore/geology/historical_lab/preservationlab.php
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/paleo/fossils/index.html
http://www.zoomschool.com/subjects/dinosaurs/dinofossils/Fossiltypes.html
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8 Grade: Unit 6 Revised 10/27/2011 15

4. EXPLORE, Part 1
Station Cards
Ask Fossil # 4
Directions:
Study the following picture. Use the websites to answer the
questions about this fossil.
Picture #4
1. What kind of fossil are you?
2. How were you formed? How did it feel to become
fossilized?
3. What conditions made it possible for you to be fossilized?
4. How are you a “window into the past?”
5. What can you tell me about your environment?
6. How did you change during your lifetime? Are you still on
Earth today? Why or why not?
7. What kind of information could scientists find out by
studying you?
Websites to search for information:
http://www.gpc.edu/~pgore/geology/historical_lab/preservationlab.php
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/paleo/fossils/index.html
http://www.zoomschool.com/subjects/dinosaurs/dinofossils/Fossiltypes.html
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8 Grade: Unit 6 Revised 10/27/2011 16

5. EXPLORE, Part 1
Station Cards
Ask Fossil # 5
Directions:
Study the following picture. Use the websites to answer the
questions about this fossil.
Picture #5
1. What kind of fossil are you?
2. How were you formed? How did it feel to become
fossilized?
3. What conditions made it possible for you to be fossilized?
4. How are you a “window into the past?”
5. What can you tell me about your environment?
6. How did you change during your lifetime? Are you still on
Earth today? Why or why not?
7. What kind of information could scientists find out by
studying you?
Websites to search for information:
http://www.gpc.edu/~pgore/geology/historical_lab/preservationlab.php
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/paleo/fossils/index.html
http://www.zoomschool.com/subjects/dinosaurs/dinofossils/Fossiltypes.html
th
8 Grade: Unit 6 Revised 10/27/2011 17

6. EXPLORE, Part 1
Station Cards
Ask Fossil # 6
Directions:
Study the following picture. Use the websites to answer the
questions about this fossil.
Picture #6
1. What kind of fossil are you?
2. How were you formed? How did it feel to become
fossilized?
3. What conditions made it possible for you to be fossilized?
4. How are you a “window into the past?”
5. What can you tell me about your environment?
6. How did you change during your lifetime? Are you still on
Earth today? Why or why not?
7. What kind of information could scientists find out by
studying you?
Websites to search for information:
http://www.gpc.edu/~pgore/geology/historical_lab/preservationlab.php
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/paleo/fossils/index.html
http://www.zoomschool.com/subjects/dinosaurs/dinofossils/Fossiltypes.html
th
8 Grade: Unit 6 Revised 10/27/2011 18

7. EXPLORE, Part 1
Station Cards
Ask Fossil # 7
Directions:
Study the following picture. Use the websites to answer the
questions about this fossil.
Picture #7
1. What kind of fossil are you?
2. How were you formed? How did it feel to become
fossilized?
3. What conditions made it possible for you to be fossilized?
4. How are you a “window into the past?”
5. What can you tell me about your environment?
6. How did you change during your lifetime? Are you still on
Earth today? Why or why not?
7. What kind of information could scientists find out by
studying you?
Websites to search for information:
http://www.gpc.edu/~pgore/geology/historical_lab/preservationlab.php
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/paleo/fossils/index.html
http://www.zoomschool.com/subjects/dinosaurs/dinofossils/Fossiltypes.html
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8 Grade: Unit 6 Revised 10/27/2011 19

8. EXPLORE, Part 1
Station Cards
Ask Fossil # 8
Directions:
Study the following picture. Use the websites to answer the
questions about this fossil.
Picture #8
1. What kind of fossil are you?
2. How were you formed? How did it feel to become
fossilized?
3. What conditions made it possible for you to be fossilized?
4. How are you a “window into the past?”
5. What can you tell me about your environment?
6. How did you change during your lifetime? Are you still on
Earth today? Why or why not?
7. What kind of information could scientists find out by
studying you?
Websites to search for information:
http://www.gpc.edu/~pgore/geology/historical_lab/preservationlab.php
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/paleo/fossils/index.html
http://www.zoomschool.com/subjects/dinosaurs/dinofossils/Fossiltypes.html
th
8 Grade: Unit 6 Revised 10/27/2011 20