Procedure:
1. Use the Digital Atlas. To get there: Click on Atlas Home, Geology, and then Fossils.
2. Have students read the section on Introduction to Fossils and answer the following as a class discussion:
   1. What must occur in order for a life form to be preserved as a fossil?
   2. What is the relationship between the age of rock and fossil type?
3. Have your students break up into groups of three or four members and give each group a box with a cut up model of an animal inside. (Animal models should be cut into at least 15 different pieces). Students should not be familiar with these models.
4. Have a member from each group gather 3 pieces of the model at a time from the box. Be sure the student cannot see the pieces he/she is choosing.
5. Every time pieces are gathered, have your students try to answer the following questions: (These questions can be written on the blackboard or put on an overhead projector)
   1. What does your animal eat?
   2. Does it live on land or water?
   3. What does this animal look like?
   4. How does the animal fit together?
   5. What is the name of this animal?
   6. What types of information did you base these answers on?
6. Keep repeating steps four and five until students can answer all questions.
7. Depending on time available, have students put pieces back in and switch with another group that has a different animal. This activity can be turned into a game by offering the first group to answer all questions correctly a prize.

Handouts/Activity links:
These are links to accress the handouts and printable materials.
Fossils

Related Lesson Topics:
Geology: Geology Topics