Fossils Complete Lesson Plan - MS

This resource provides everything you need to teach a comprehensive middle school unit on fossils. Students explore what fossils are, how they form, and what they reveal about Earth’s history. The unit includes editable presentations, worksheets, student-choice projects, a differentiated station lab, and assessments. Designed for multiday instruction with minimal prep, the lesson emphasizes student-led, differentiated learning so teachers can focus on supporting student success.

Essential Questions for Students

• What are fossils?

• What are the different types of fossilization?

• How do relative and absolute age differ?

• What does the fossil record reveal to scientists?

• What modern organisms share similarities with those from the past?

Key Features

• Differentiated supports for students needing extra help

• Multimodal learning to maintain engagement across learning styles

• Flexible delivery—printable and digital formats included

• Editable PowerPoints for customization

• Spanish translations of vocabulary, a reading passage for the lab, and interactive notebook pages

Instructional Framework: The 5E Model

This lesson follows the 5E instructional model—Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate—ensuring a balance of inquiry, practice, and assessment.

Engage

• Objectives and Word Wall cards (English & Spanish)

• Teacher file with discussion prompts, misconceptions, and an engaging activity

Explore

• A nine-station, student-led lab that introduces fossils through varied, multimodal experiences

Input Stations:

• Explore It! – Hands-on demonstration or experiment

• Read It! – Differentiated reading passages (English & Spanish) with comprehension checks

• Research It! – Guided online exploration with structured tasks

• Watch It! – Video with discussion questions

Output Stations:

• Organize It! – Sorting or categorization activities (printable and digital)

• Write It! – Open-ended written responses in complete sentences

• Illustrate It! – Drawing/sketching concepts to reinforce retention

• Assess It! – Vocabulary-in-context and mastery-based questions

Bonus Station:

• Challenge It! – Crosswords, games, and mini-projects for enrichment or early finishers

Explain

• Editable PowerPoints (standard and interactive versions)

• Interactive Notebook templates (digital & print, English & Spanish)

• Note-taking organizers for guided practice

Elaborate

• Student-choice projects on fossils to extend learning in class or at home

Evaluate

• Assessments updated for STAAR 2.0, with both standard and modified versions

• Review worksheets and questions for homework, practice, or class discussion

Flexible Learning Options

This resource is designed for both in-person and virtual instruction. The digital station lab and interactive notebook activities are fully compatible with PowerPoint and Google Slides, making it easy to adapt to different classroom settings.

This is a finished product; it will be updated with formatting or corrections as needed. Future improvements and new features will be sold as a separate product.