College Crunch

Paleontology is the study of prehistoric life and how living things interacted with each other and their environment. It also examines evolution, and how beings have progressed and adapted over time. Many confuse paleontology with archaeology, mainly because they both involve the study of artifacts and fossils. Paleontology is an in-depth form of study that takes a look at the earth, its inhabitants, and how the environment functioned in past times. It helps us to better understand our world and how it was formed, as well as what makes animals, plants, and humans function the way they do today.

A paleontologist has several different jobs at once. They may gather artifacts and fossils from ancient burial sites, and from places where fossils can still be found. They must also be able to analyze research data and translate that data into a scientific conclusion. The ability to understand history, biology, and geology all at once is critical. A paleontologist also must be able to write up a report and submit it for review before it can be considered a scientific fact. Paleontologists have a clear vision of how the environment works, and what kids of animals and plants used to live on our planet. They have a vast knowledge of science, evolution, environment, adaptation, history, rock formation, and much more.

The study of paleontology gives us very important insight into the world, how it was formed, and how animals and plants have evolved. By understanding the dinosaurs and what made them extinct, paleontologists can help determine new paths for us to take for our environment today. A good understanding of the past is important in helping us shape the future. It also gives people insight into the different plant and animal species and how they used to live. This can be an important part of the puzzle of thousands of animal species and where they came from as well as how they have changed over the millennium. With this field of study, we can get a better grasp of our world and its complicated history.

• Paleontology Careers – Describes the different careers available for paleontology and what kind of study is needed.
• Understanding Evolution – Several lesson plans focusing on evolution.
• Dinosaur Bodies – This lesson plan explores geography and how it helps us to interpret the past.
• Life has a History – Explore life and its beginnings and history with this interactive guide.
• Dinosaur Name Game – A fun lesson plan that teaches students about dinosaurs, and how they got their various names.
• Project Exploration – Bring the study of paleontology to life with this in-depth website.
• Prehistoric Climate Change – Use this lesson plan to explain prehistoric climate change and how it relates to humans today.
• Fossil Facts & Finds – Everything fossil-related can be found on this site.
• Dinosaur Dig – A lesson plan for all grades that discusses dinosaurs and fossils.
• The Flying Pteranodon – Using a poem, this lesson plan talks about the dinosaur and discusses its many features.
• Walking with Dinosaurs – An in-depth site rich with resources dedicated to the study of dinosaurs.
• Australian Fossils – This website has information about dinosaurs and fossils that once roamed Australia.
• Learning from the Fossil Record – Geared towards older students/high grades, this site is a wealth of information on fossils and paleontology.
• History of the Rocky Mountains – A teacher’s guide to the Rocky Mountains and how they were formed; site has links to other areas of the US as well.
• Evolution of Flight – With information for both teachers and students, this site focuses on the evolution of birds.
• Webquest – An online web quest focusing on both archaeology and paleontology.
• Evidence for Evolution – This web quest has a focus on evolution.
• Dinosaurs – This website has a large variety of activities and resources all about dinosaurs.
• Origins of Birds Web Quest – A web quest that discovers birds and where they came from.
• Jurassic Park Web Quest – A fun web quest with a dinosaur/Jurassic Park theme.
• Prehistoric Nebraska – This web quest has a focus on Nebraska, but uses exploration and paleontology themes.
• Fossils Web Quest – This web quest about fossils is designed for third grade students.
• Flora and Fauna Map – Explore various prehistoric plants and animals using this interactive map.
• Mammoths & Mastodons – A creative site that explores prehistoric animals and their history.
• Dinosaurs! – Another fun dinosaur-themed web quest.
• Fossil Dig – Use this web quest to learn about fossils, geared towards third graders.
• An Ancient Land – This site offers a large selection of resources focusing on our prehistoric earth.
• The Evolving Planet – An excellent resource for evolution and animal adaptation information.
• You be the Historian – Use this resource to teach students about artifacts and how to put the pieces of the historical puzzle together.
• Evolution & Fossils – This site discusses fossils and how they have had an impact on our views of evolution.

Understanding Geologic Time – This website explores time and how it effects our world, particularly geological formations.