Michigan Geological Survey Digital Toolkit
This toolkit contains many resources to provide ideas, learning activities, and projects for use at libraries or for families.
Resources are grouped in three categories: media such as video links, slide decks, and other media links; maker activities that allow children to create products of their own; and fun and games which include activities and games that are recreational.
A recommended booklist from the National Earth Science Teachers Association is also provided.
If you have questions about these resources, please contact us.
Media Resources
- What Are Fossils video
- Source: Twinkl USA
- Length: 5 min 22 sec
- Introduction to fossils and paleontology
- Grades: K-6 recommended
- Fossils 101
- Source: National Geographic
- Length: 4 min 7 sec
- Grade: Fossils for middle school and/or high school levels
- Most AMAZING Fossil Discoveries
- Source: Origins Explained
- Length: 12 min 39 sec
- Grades: 2-10
- Note: Top ten amazing discoveries
- Dinosaur Train-Learn About Fossils
- Source: PBS Kids
- Length: 2 min 58 sec
- Grades: Preschool, early elementary
- Otzi the Iceman
- Source: Ted ED
- Length: 5 min 8 sec
- Grades: Upper elementary and older
- Note: Discovery of frozen prehistoric man
- Walking With Dinosaurs
- Source: Prime Video (may have cost)
- Length: 1 hour 27 min
- Grades: Upper elementary and older
- Earth Science: Crash Course History of Science #20
- Source: Complexly.
- Length: 13 min 43 sec
- Grades: Middle school/high school
- Note: History of fossil studies
- Tails and Tusks and Teeth, Oh My!
- Source: SciShow Kids.
- Length: 19 min 48 sec
- Grades: Ice Age animals for elementary and middle school
- Dig Into Paleontology
- Source: SciShow
- Length: 4 min 11 sec
- Grades: PreK and up to 2nd
- The Very Big Story of the Dinosaur
- Source: SciShow
- Length: 19 min 58 sec
- Grades: Pre-K and up to 2nd grade
- Mary Anning, Fossil Hunter
- Source: Sci Show
- Length: 4:13
- Grades: Pre-kindergarten up to third grade
- Eons
- Source: PBS Eons
- Length: Varies
- Grades: K-12
- Note: A series of videos take you on a journey through the history of life on Earth. From the dawn of life in the Archaean Eon through the Mesozoic Era — the so-called “Age of Dinosaurs” — right up to the end of the most recent Ice Age. Eight seasons with 10-minute episodes. Middle school and older.
- Building a Dinosaur from a Chicken
- Source: Ted Talk.
- Length: 16:36
- Grades: High school and older
- Note: Jack Horner discusses reconstructing extinct species from DNA.
- Michigan Geological Survey Telling the Story of a Fossil slide deck
- instructor-slides-the-stories-fossils-tell.pptx
- Length: 73 Slides
- Michigan Geological Survey Mystery Hidden in the Earth’s Layers: Hunt for a Tyrannosaur Rex slide deck
- Treasure Hunt for a Tyrannosaurus Rex.pptx
- Length: 20 Slides
- Michigan Geological Survey You Tube channel
- Grades: High school and older
- Note: Multiple videos about Michigan geology
- Ology-Paleontology
- Source: American Museum of Natural History
- Note: Bonus activities and resources
- National Park Service Paleontology Guide
- Source: National Park Service
- Grades: For middle school and older students
- Note: This is a more comprehensive and lesson-based resources with connections to national parks
Maker Resources
- Make a fossil biography poster
- File: handout-3-fossil-biography.pptx
- Length: 1 Slide
- Coloring dino mask
- Dinosaur puzzle maker
- Dinosaur craft clothespin puppet
- Dinosaur surprise egg cards
- Dinosaur paper bracelets
- Dinosaur drawing templates
- Mini dinosaur puppets
- Make fossil replicas
- fossil-digital-lesson-2.pptx
- Length: 6 Slides
- DIY cardboard dinosaur models
- Length: 2-minute video.
- Cardboard dinosaur puzzle
- Packed full of cool information and activities for upper elementary and older.
- Michigan Geological Survey “TheStoriesFossils Tell “complete educational resource
- Make fossil teeth replicas
Fun and Games Resources
- Dinosaur Bingo game
- Source: JustFamilyFun
- Grade: K-5
- Can you Run As Fast as a Dinosaur?
- Team with make a fossil biography poster handout-3-fossil-biography.pptx for the dinosaur that they matched.
- Length: 1 Slide
- Ages: 5 and up
- Junior Paleontology Activity Booklet
- Source: National Park Service
- Ages: 5 and up
- Pterosaur Card Game
- Source: American Museum of Natural History
- Grade:5 and up
- Evolve or Perish Board Game.
- Source: National Museum of Natural History
- Length: 15-30 minutes
- Grade: 3-8