Exploring Evolution, Inheritance and Adaptation through Fossils

With a focus on what fossils can tell us about evolution, adaptation and inheritance students are challenged to have a go at solving some of the puzzles palaeontologists face as they attempt to understand more about life in the past and extinction events.  A very tactile and practical workshop with lots of opportunities to handle fossils.  Working scientifically, can you examine the evidence and produce a theory?  Could we, should we clone a Woolly Mammoth?

Typical Session Activities

• Introduction to palaeontology
• Overview of the typical information obtained by examining fossil evidence
• Exploring ideas, looking at evidence formulating theories (working scientifically)
• Why do we have fossilised skulls of Triceratops but very few bones from the forelimbs?
• Fossil detectives – solving the mystery of the strange jaw bone from a Chicago coal mine

The workshop is designed to reinforce learning associated with KS2 and KS3 elements of the science curriculum with a focus on evolution, inheritance, climate change, adaptation, genetics and extinction.  This is an active session that involves extensive participation, collaborative learning and reinforces key learning concepts.  Students and teachers benefit from the chance to meet and engage with professionals from a scientific background.

The STEM Directory is provided as a service to support you in finding enrichment opportunities. The activities are offered by external providers and are not endorsed by STEM Learning. We are not responsible for their content or delivery.