Learning objectives

Knowledge

  • To identify fossils and group rocks accordingly.

Working scientifically

  • To use the fossil record to answer questions about the past.

Success criteria

Knowledge

  • I can identify fossils in rocks.
  • I can group

This content is for subscribers only. Join for access today.

National curriculum

Science

Rocks

Pupils should be

This content is for subscribers only. Join for access today.

Before the lesson

This content is for subscribers only. Join for access today.

Lesson plan

Recap and recall

Choose the most scientifically accurate short film the pupils produced in Lesson 3: Fossil formation and play it to the class. Ask the children to discuss with a partner the following questions:

This content is for subscribers only. Join for access today.

Adaptive teaching

Pupils needing extra support

Could be provided with a pre-cut set of fossils; could use an A3 copy of the Activity: Fossil hunter (one per group), placing the fossils they find in the correct position and using a device to photograph the fossil record created.

Pupils working at greater depth

Should work in pairs (with one member arguing for and one against) to debate the theory ‘the dinosaurs must have all died out after era E as no more dinosaur fossils were found after this point’; could choose an extension activity relating to rocks or fossils from the Resource: Stretch and challenge: Rocks and soil.

This content is for subscribers only. Join for access today.

Assessing progress and understanding

Pupils with secure understanding indicated by: identifying fossils in rocks and grouping

This content is for subscribers only. Join for access today.

Knowledge outcomes

  • I can identify fossils in rocks by looking for bits of living things, imprints and patterns.
  • I can group rocks that contain fossils.
  • I can briefly describe the work of a palaeontologist, including answering questions about types of creatures found in the past, how they behaved and how they changed over time, what the environment and climate were like, the age of rocks and important events.

This content is for subscribers only. Join for access today.

Vocabulary definitions

  • era

    A large span of time in Earth's history.

  • fossil record

    A collection of all the fossils found that help scientists learn about Earth's history and past life.

This content is for subscribers only. Join for access today.

Our team comprises experienced classroom teachers who love the foundation subjects
Find out more
Kapow logo

Maintained by: Kapow Primary team

_
For copyright reasons, you may not screenshot this page.
Press esc to exit