Grade 1 - A History Of The Earth

134 The History of the Earth: Supplemental Guide 7A | Fossils

What Do We Know? 5 minutes

Have students name plants or animals that live on the earth now.

Tell them that today they will meet a friend of Gerry’s who will tell

them about plants and animals that lived on the earth many, many

years ago.

Vocabulary Preview 5 minutes

Paleontologist

 Show Image 7A-1: Pam the Paleontologist

1. In today’s read-aloud you will meet Pam. Pam is a
   paleontologist.


2. Say paleontologist with me three times.


3. A paleontologist is a scientist who studies life that existed on
   earth long ago.


4. The paleontologist found something in a rock from thousands
   of years ago. The paleontologist will use clues from the rock
   to fi nd out what life was like a long, long time ago on earth.


5. Gerry is a geologist. Pam is a paleontologist. They both are
   scientists, but they study different things. Turn and tell your
   partner which type of scientist, paleontologist or geologist,
   you would prefer to be when you grow up.
   Fossils
    Show image 7A-3: Fossilized shell


6. Paleontologists study something called fossils. [Point to the
   fossilized shell.]


7. Say fossil with me three times.


8. A fossil is the preserved body or imprint of a plant or animal
   that lived a long time ago. Fossils give paleontologists clues
   about what life on Earth was like a long time ago.


9. Henry found a fossil of a seashell when he was walking with
   his dad on a small island.