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
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National curriculum
Science
Rocks
Pupils
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Cross-curricular links
British values
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Before the lesson
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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:
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Extended-mode explainer videos
How to extend your display to view the lesson page and preseantion mode simultaneously. Choose your operating system below to watch the video
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.
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Assessing progress and understanding
Pupils with secure understanding indicated by: identifying fossils in rocks and grouping
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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.
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Vocabulary definitions
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era
A large span of time in Earth's history.
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fossil record
A collection of all the fossils found that help scientists learn about Earth's history and past life.
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