DRAW T-REX, AND OTHER HANDS-ON PALEONTOLOGICAL AND EARTH HISTORY ACTIVITIES AT THE EARTH SCIENCE EDUCATION NETWORK, KENTUCKY GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

The Kentucky Geological Survey's Earth Science Education Network, www.uky.edu/kgs/education/education.html, contains instructions for inquiry-based, hands-on, earth history and paleontological classroom activities. They include (1) “It's About Time”: a collection of standard methods for demonstrating geologic time on paper, on a clock, on a sports field, basketball court, or parking lot; a series of time lines with different formats; a variety of lists of important dates in earth history for use in time lines; and images of prehistoric life that can be used in the classroom, time lines, and student presentations; (2) “Geologic and Paleontologic Cookbook”: a collection of recipes for edible earth-history activities and fun classroom demonstrations; (3) “How Fossils Form Activities”: a collection of activities that demonstrate the many ways fossils form using plaster, glue, candle wax, ink, food, and clay; (4) “Trilobite Masks”: an activity in which students make masks of ancient marine arthropods using paper plates, (5) “Draw T. rex”: an activity in which students are given a fossil skull image and then are asked to draw on the soft parts and tissues through a guided discussion of reptile and animal anatomy, until the T- rex is reconstructed; (6) “Can You Find…”: a search for different types of fossils and prehistoric animals depicted on the popular “Progression of Life” poster, which can be used to help understand earth history and prehistoric life; and (7) “Fossil Shapes Extension Activity”: Mesozoic fossils in cut stone are examined in a virtual field trip to demonstrate how fossils are identified, and the problems with identifying three-dimensional shapes from two dimensional fossils. Many of these activities are cross-linked to the “Fossils and Prehistoric Life” page, which contains information on identifying fossils found in Kentucky by type, age, the area in which they were found, and their basic shapes. Cross-links are also made to the “Earth History Key Links” page which is subdivided by period and provides annotated links to important events and creatures in earth history. The Key Links section of the website has hundreds of links to activities and demonstrations arranged by earth-science subject matter and annotated for quick searches.