Middle School Life Science - Fossils
Learn all about fossils and why they are important in Science!
Ashlie Ruggiero
Average rating:
4.8
Number of reviews:(502)
What's included
5 live meetings
4 hrs 35 mins in-class hoursClass Experience
Sessions will cover Middle School Life Science topics, and is a part of a series of classes. (video shows students and what they learned in our unit about VOLCANOES) Each class will be 5 weeks long. There will be projects for each unit. See additional classes for Middle School Life Science for the entirety of the school year. Become a paleontologist with me, learn all about fossils and their importance, and even dig for fossils as a final project together! Homework is encouraged, but optional. Any student wanting a grade for this class must complete all homework assignments. Final projects are mandatory for everyone to participate in. The class falls around 50-60 minutes depending on the number of students in the class and their needs and questions. Class 1: FOSSILS!! What are fossils? Why are they important to learn about? Who studies them? What kinds of fossils are there? How are they formed? Interesting facts on fossils. Through class discussion, videos, and lecture, students will learn all about fossils. Together we will play a quiz game to see what we learned! Homework: Write how studying fossils has led us to important research studies. Why is it important to learn about the past? Class 2: Fossils and Dinosaurs - Through class discussion, lecture, and videos, students will learn about how dinosaur fossils have taught us about the history of the past. Where have fossils of dinosaurs been found? What are the different time periods dinosaurs have lived through? We will talk about the largest and smallest fossils found and how fossils help us learn more about dinosaurs of that time. Fossils and Dino eggs - what do they teach us? PROJECT: Together, we will take dough (recipe is posted in the classroom - need salt, water, vegetable oil, and flour) and press a variety of objects into it to dry to create our own fossils. (Items you could imprint with - chicken bones, leaves, twigs, dead hard-shelled bugs, plastic dinosaurs for footprints, seashells, and more!) HOMEWORK: Fossil/Dinosaur reading comprehension worksheet. Class 3: Human Fossils - How do human fossils help us learn about the past? Are human fossils and human remains the same thing? How do human remains help us figure out the past? Learn about the "human family tree", how human characterizes have changed, and how fossils have helped us find out more about our ancestors. HOMEWORK: Work on final projects and study for final jeopardy day! Class 4: FINAL JEOPARDY DAY - put all of the skills you have learned in this unit together to win the title of FOSSIL KING/QUEEN of JEOPARDY. Class 5: FINAL PROJECT DAY!!! Research something about fossils that sparked your interest. Pretend you are the museum director, and put together a brochure of the past (a tri-fold poster board -- a computer-version of a tri-fold is fine as well). Discuss 1. What fossils are. 2. Your favorite dinosaur 3. Human fossils and how they have helped us today. Decorate with pictures and information you want your visitors to know! (More about this project will be written inside the syllabus in the classroom). CHECK OUT THE NEXT SECTION OF MIDDLE SCHOOL LIFE SCIENCE AS WE EXPLORE THE HUMAN BODY!
Other Details
Parental Guidance
Studies of fossils do involve discussing death of live creatures and discussing their remains. Please be advised that pictures of bones and fossilized creatures will be shown in this class.
Supply List
There will be some projects in this class that parents will need to get supplies for. The majority of experiments will use household items you probably already have. A full list will be given out each session. Students are required to do final projects in this class. Please make sure they have a pencil/pen and notebook for class as well as colored pencils/crayons/markers etc for reports. All worksheets will be provided.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
4.8
502reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
HELLO! My name is Ms Ashlie, and welcome to my classroom!
I look forward to having classes with you! I pride my class on my no bullying policy, and that every class is fully inclusive and welcoming for every single student who enters.
I have been a teacher in many areas, both homeschool and in a live classroom, as well as a professional level tutor for children and adults ages pre-school through college for over 13 years. In that, I have done everything from teaching from the ground up, to preparing for the SATs and aiding in the college essay writing process. I have worked in both the school settings, as well as home environments, online teaching, coaching sports, and childcare settings. I am also a Homeschool Mom of middle school age twins. In addition to my core topic teaching, I am also internationally certified in TESOL and am an ESL teacher. I am a nationally registered BLS instructor, and have taught basic life support to medical students at many New England located Universities for the American Red Cross.
I have a Bachelors of Science Degree from the University of New Haven, where I deeply studied Psychology, Forensic Science, Investigative Services and law with a minor in History, officially earning my degree in "Criminal Justice" in 2012. I also have an Associates of the Arts Degree from Gateway College where I double majored in Child Studies/Education, and Child Psychology/Behavior with a minor in Special Education, and a major focus in English.
I attended multiple science scholarship programs at Yale University, and took college courses there while still in High School. I graduated from both universities, and High School, at the top of my classes in the International Honor Societies.
I enjoy art and science, and you will see a lot of this applied to learning in my classroom!
The key to learning is creativity, and a fun and exciting atmosphere. I believe that all children can love to learn, and it is my job, and my passion, to guide children to discover their own passions within the subjects they are learning so that they can excel in not only education, but in life. In my classroom, we travel to new worlds, new times, other places in the world and explore and discover new things. I will always incorporate something exciting into every class.
I live in Connecticut, in the United States, with my husband, my 12 year old girl/boy twins, my 3 year old daughter, our 2 dogs, and chinchilla! My hobbies include singing, playing the piano and guitar, acting, horseback riding, and venturing out hiking, going to museums, camping, and enjoying nature. I love to read, and specifically enjoy books about magical worlds (such as Harry Potter) and Ancient Egypt.
I look forward to meeting you here in my classroom!Reviews
Live Group Class
$80
for 5 classes1x per week, 5 weeks
55 min
Completed by 136 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 10-14
3-18 learners per class
