Embedded Files
These stand-alone investigations can be used by teachers of any curriculum, but they are also designed to complement Mi-STAR units.
Suggested Classroom Use: Use the Volcanologist lesson with Unit 8.2.
Learn about the similarities and differences between archaeology and paleontology by watching this video (5:04).
Suggested classroom use: Ask students to complete this Venn diagram to compare and contrast archaeology and paleontology.
Read this "Science News Explores" article (readability score: 7.9) about three paleontologists, including one who acted as a technical advisor for Jurassic Park. A TED Talk (16:19) with paleontologist Ted Horner is also linked in the middle of the article.
Suggested classroom use: Due to the length of this article, you may want to break students into groups and ask each group to read the introduction and then one of the three sections. Student groups can share what they have learned with the class.
This article includes a word find puzzle utilizing "Power Words" from the article, which may be useful for a substitute teacher.
(Note: Teachers must provide an email address to register for free access to the puzzle.)
Read this "Science News Explores" article (readability score: 7.4) about a paleontologist who discovered Arkansas' first know dinosaur fossil.
Suggested classroom use: Have students use these guidelines to make a one-pager after reading the article.
Suggested Classroom Use: Show one of the videos below as a warm-up or when there are only a few minutes of class time left. Utilize one of the reflection forms below with students.
Use this Career Connections Video Student Reflection Guide to engage your students!
Use this LINK video reflection resource to help students focus.
Use this graphic organizer from education.com. Ask students to research any information that isn't provided in the video.
Teachers need to create a free account to access the organizer.
Meet geologist Alison Everhart in this video (5:17) from Mission Unstoppable. Follow along as she visits a quarry looking for limestone which is the main ingredient found in concrete.
Watch this video (1:57) to learn how geologist James Day studies meteorites and other materials in the lab to learn more about how planets form and how Earth became able to support life.
Meet Alexandra Hakala, a geochemist at National Energy Technology Laboratory. Learn what she does and how she got there in this video (4:15).
Learn about geology career paths by watching this short video (1:23).
A Day in the Life of a Geologist
This video (1:31) illustrates a day in the life of a mining geologist.
What can you do with a degree in geology?
Learn more about studying geology by watching this video (3:24)
In this video (4:42), accompany paleontologist David Wilcots as he looks for fossils.
This short video (2:06) provides a description of paleontology, job duties, and educational requirements.
Exploration geologist Angela Garcia is training NASA astronauts to explore the moon's south pole for the upcoming Artemis missions. Watch this video (5:42) to learn more about her job and how she got there.
Meet two scientists whose job is to keep track of the Moon rock samples brought back to Earth by the Apollo astronauts and to assist scientists who conduct research on the moon rocks. Learn more in this video (5:28).
Meet Cassandra Black, an exploration geologist. Her job is to look for minerals in the Earth. Learn about her job and the education needed to become a geologist in this video (3:36).
Meet a geologist in this video (1:49) and hear his advice for anyone interested in a career in geology. Also, learn what he thinks the next big steps in geology will be.
Find out more about the career of paleontology in this video (1:42). Meet a state paleontologist who has traveled the world and hear his advice for those interested in pursuing their own career in paleontology.
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