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Junior STEAM Lab: Let's Investigate Fossils (Paleontology + STEM Skills)

Let's dig into the past to learn about what fossils are, how they are formed, where you can find them, and some of the different kinds you can find. Young paleontologists + dinosaur lovers will experience observing real fossils together!
Shiny Happy Kids: STEM DINOS ART MYTHOLOGY & More!
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:
(853)
Star Educator
Popular
Class

What's included

1 live meeting
50 mins in-class hours
Homework
1 hour per week. No formal homework. Students are encouraged to share their projects with the other students via the virtual classroom, using photos and videos. Some extension activities may be suggested but are never required.
Assessment
No formal assessment, but feedback is always available upon request.

Class Experience

Beginner Level
Let's DIG into the past!  We'll explore the ever-changing, exciting field of PALEONTOLOGY.  Did people and dinosaurs live on Earth at the same time?  How do we know about what our planet and living things were like in the past?  

During class we will:
Start with a fun, hands-on warm up and sharing activity (creating our own fossils)
Learn about FOSSILS: What are they?  How are they formed? Are there different types?  Where are they found?  Who can find them, and how?  What can we learn from them?
Look at photos and illustrations of different types of fossils
Examine and make observations of the teacher's fossil collection
Explore tools that are used to collect fossils
Wrap up class with a final hands-on project (create a dig site)
Extra time for sharing rocks and fossil collections, dinosaur toys, facts, etc (time-permitting)

Mixed into these activities and topics will be lots of questions and discussion, sharing prompts, movement activities, and other age-appropriate media resources.
Learning Goals
Through discussion, hands-on activities, gross motor activities, and short lessons, students will be exposed to STEAM concepts and practice important scientific and educational skills such as observation, communication, problem-solving, and recall.  They will be invited to explore and express their creativity through both open-ended and guided projects.
The students will be exposed to new vocabulary such as: trace fossil, preserved, petrified, evidence, dig site, timeline, geographic, extinction, Mesozoic, Triassic, Jurassic, Cretaceous, habitat, climate, prehistoric, fossils, paleontology, and more.
learning goal

Other Details

Parental Guidance
Some projects may require cutting with scissors or other basic construction. Adult supervision or assistance may be required at the discretion of the parent, based on the individual student's capabilities and limitations. All creative projects will be age-appropriate in their nature and difficulty. Allergy Note: Playdough may contain wheat, which could cause an allergic reaction if ingested in those sensitive to wheat gluten or with Celiac disease. I am happy to provide a recipe for gluten-free playdough upon request, or suggest alternative supplies.
Supply List
Access to a printer
Paper
Clay, Sculpy or play dough (gluten-free if needed)
Creative building supplies (such as plastic construction blocks, wooden blocks, magnetic building tiles, etc)
(optional) sand, kinetic sand, or similar material
small plastic toys, objects (we will use these to make our fossils)
flat, textured item (ie a coin, construction blocks baseplate, leaf)--we will create a "crayon rubbing" with this item
One crayon that has the paper removed
Coloring supplies
Pencil
Scissors
Glue stick
Rocks, fossils, dinosaur toys or books to share if time permits (not required)
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
5.0
853reviews
Star Educator
Popular
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
Pennsylvania Teaching Certificate in Music/Theater/Arts
Annette Frontz (Ms. Annette)
Florida Teaching Certificate in Elementary Education
Courtney Miranda Sprague (Miss Courtney)
I'm so excited to share my love of dinosaurs, and embark on this exciting adventure with you!  I've been teaching STEAM through fun, engaging topics like these to preschool through middle school for 8 years through an independent STEAM education company, and I'm really looking forward to connecting with new students here on Outschool.  Not only will we be learning about dinosaurs, fossils, paleontologists and more--but we'll also get to use our imaginations and practice all kinds of important primary skills together!

Reviews

Live One-Time Class
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$18

per class
Meets once
50 min

Completed by 22 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 5-9
4-8 learners per class

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