The University of Texas at Austin Texas Natural Science Center Texas Natural Science Center

Education

Texas Fossils...Can You Dig It?

Teacher Training

During fall 2008 and spring 2009, Texas Natural Science Center will conduct four, day-long teacher training workshops entitled Texas Fossils...Can You Dig It? In each of the four workshops, ten elementary and middle school teachers will work with University of Texas at Austin scientists and science educators to:

  • examine how the fossil record provides evidence for evolution;
  • demonstrate fundamental geological principles;
  • investigate how paleontologists use fossils to reconstruct past environments;
  • analyze adaptations that allow species to survive; and,
  • examine natural events that may have contributed to the extinction of some species.

Teachers will participate in inquiry-based activities using a stratigraphic layer modeling kit. Each kit contains six separate and different chunks of “earth,” each a cross-sectional model reproduction, showing rock layers. Included in each of the six cross-sectional models are rock samples, actual fossils, and casts of fossils from the TNSC collections. The environment in which each rock layer is formed can be interpreted from the rock type and fossils found within the layer.

During the workshop, each teacher will make their own stratigraphic layer modeling kit, which they can take back to their classroom and use for teaching. Having six models per classroom allows each classroom student full participation in hands-on exploration and analysis of a model. And because the six models are different from one another, students can compare and contrast their interpretations of the six models.

In addition to the stratigraphic layer modeling kit, each teacher will receive:

  • a set of Geology of Texas maps for their classroom students;
  • curriculum aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS);
  • a tour of the Hall of Geology and Paleontology at the Texas Memorial Museum conducted by a TNSC paleontology educator;
  • credit for eight hours of continuing professional education (CPE);
  • lunch and parking.

For more information contact Christina Cid at cramsey@mail.utexas.edu or 512-232-5509.