Fossils

Event Information

Rules: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eDnpBE0KcBIYSE_X3DTjGvvoBpHw1KIQ/view

Fossils list: https://www.soinc.org/sites/default/files/uploaded_files/2020_Fossil_List.pdf

Anything about anything on the fossils list is fair game, including but not limited to: habitat, diet, structure of body, and pop culture.

Overview

Competitors: 2

Materials: 2 inch binder containing any information (lamination, sheet protectors, and tags are allowed), Magnifying glass

Overview: There will a number of stations, usually anywhere from 15 to 25 stations, with anywhere from 90 seconds to 180 seconds at each station. Each station will have fossils (or pictures of fossils) and corresponding question sheet with 5 to 10 questions on it. The team's score is calculated solely on the number of question correct.

Tips: One designated writer is very helpful, with both identifying and doing questions, preferably splitting up the questions at each station, one person should write down the answers for efficiency's sake. It's not as important to know the information or names of fossils as to be able to identify key features of a fossil that guide you to a picture in your binder and find the information there. Speed is key. If you can't solve a question at first glance, then guess and move on. Getting hung up on a question is the worst thing you can do. I never use the magnifying glass. The one time I actually brought it, I never used it. The defining features of a fossils are always visible to the naked eye, and using a magnifying glass just wastes precious seconds. The binder can be two inches. Make use of as much of those two inches as you can. Do not print out Wikipedia pages, write the notes yourselves. Put as much information as possible, but make sure it's neatly organized and you know where each type of fossil, like mollusks, dinosaurs, and trilobites, are in the binder to save time finding information. ESRT is always helpful in one way or another, so make sure to have one.