Lesson Summary: Xenosmilus

Lesson summary for... Xenosmilus Author/Source: UC Museum of Paleontology

Overview:	Students play the roles of paleontologists on a dig. They “unearth” a few fossils at a time and attempt to reconstruct the animal the fossils represent.
Concepts:	This lesson covers the following concepts: Form is linked to function. Fossils provide evidence of past life. Scientists ask and address questions about the natural world. Science explains the natural world using evidence from the natural world. Scientists study fossils and how and when they were formed.
Grade Level:	3-5
Time:	~ 40 minutes
Teacher Background:	Explore these links for additional information on the topics covered in this lesson: Evidence for Evolution Nature of Science
Teaching Tips:	An excellent lesson for demonstrating and discussing the nature of science. Adaptable to multiple grade levels. Best to laminate sets of the “fossil bones” for repetitive use. Adapted from ENSI's Xenosmilus.