Adventures in Paleontology: 36 Classroom Fossil Activities (PB201X) [Illustrated] [Paperback]

Thor A. Hansen (Author), Irwin L. Slesnick (Author), D. W. Miller (Illustrator)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0873552725 | ISBN-13: 978-0873552721 | Publication Date: June 30, 2006 | Edition: sku PB201X

Millions of years after vanishing from the Earth, dinosaurs still have the power to stir students' curiosity. Deepen that interest with Adventures in Paleontology, a series of lively hands-on activities especially for middle schoolers. This beautifully illustrated full color book features 36 activities that open students up to a variety of foundational sciences, including biology, geology, chemistry, physics, and astronomy. For example: 'How Do Fossils Form?' discusses how organisms become fossils and illustrates the concept with activities that simulate fossil-making processes. 'What Can You Learn From Fossils?' explores what fossils teach about ancient organisms. 'Mass Extinction and Meteor Collisions With Earth' discusses recently discovered links between meteor and asteroid impacts on Earth and the demise of animals like dinosaurs. Other chapters cover how to tell the age of the Earth; how dinosaurs evolved; and diversity, classification, and taxonomy.! The final chapters offer humanistic perspectives on fossils in literature and art. As an attention-grabbing complement to the text, vivid full color illustrations show not just skeletons and animal tracks but also what dinosaurs probably looked like in their natural settings. Handy line drawings guide students through each step of the activities.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This is a complete, well-structured handbook of hands-on activities that will invite students to have many exciting adventures in paleontology. --Science Books & Films, November/December 2006

Using an active approach, Hansen (geology, Western Washington U.) and former biology and science education professor Slesnick provide activities explaining the fossil-making process and collection, extinction and meteor collisions, the age of the Earth, evolution, classification, and understanding fossils from a humanistic perspective. --SciTech Book News, March 1, 2007

About the Author

Thor Hansen has been deeply interested in paleontology since he first found fossils behind his house at the age of six. He has taught geology at the University of Texas and, since 1985, at Western Washington University. He earned his bachelor's degree in geology at George Washington University and his doctorate in geology at Yale University. Irwin Slesnick started out as a teacher of high school science and math in Ohio and taught biology and science education at Western Washington University for more than 35 years. He has written more than 200 articles and books. Slesnick earned his bachelor's degree in zoology from Bowling Green University, his master's in zoology from the University of Michigan, and his PhD in science education from Ohio State University. D.W. Miller likes to combine his interests in paleontology and painting to 'bring to life the marvelous forms lost to extinction.' In addition to appearing in numerous textbooks and magazines, his work has been used in displays for the American Museum of Natural History in New York, the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, and the National Museum of Science and Industry in London. Miller studied at Montserrat School of Visual Art in Massachusetts, Olympic Park Institute in Washington, and the Art Students League in New York.

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Natl Science Teachers Assn; sku PB201X edition (June 30, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0873552725
• ISBN-13: 978-0873552721
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #694,351 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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