Earth Science

EQ: How do fossils show the changing environment of the Earth?

Millions of years ago, long before there were any people, there were dinosaurs.  Dinosaurs were land-dwelling reptiles that walked upright. There were lots of different kinds of dinosaurs that lived at different times. Dinosaurs were one of several kinds of prehistoric reptiles that lived during the Mesozoic Era, the “Age of Reptiles.”  Dinosaurs are believed to have shared some of the same characteristics of modern day reptiles. Modern reptiles are ectothermic (cold-blooded) vertebrates (have a backbone). Cold-blooded animals cannot control their own body temperature, so they rely on the sun’s energy to warm their bodies. Presently, reptiles can be found in various places throughout the world, including most of the world’s oceans. They are found in a broad range of habitats, from the bottom of ponds and lakes to the high mountains. However, they are especially abundant and diverse in the tropics and in deserts. The factor that limits where they can live is their inability to produce their own body heat. Therefore, no reptiles are found in extremely cold regions such as the polar oceans or Antarctica . (From http://www.solarnavigator.net/animal_kingdom/reptiles.htm)

Procedures:

1. Consider the locations listed in the chart for #3 below.  Based on the reading, predict which of these locations you would expect to have the most different kinds of dinosaur fossils. Why?
2. Predict which of these locations would have the least. Explain why. i think the most amount of dinosaurs will be located in canada because the country is very large and i think that lots of dinosaurs could live there.
3. Go to the following website: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/dinosaurs/
4. Use the website to determine the information about dinosaur fossils found at these locations:

1. Based on the reading, what is the one factor that limits reptiles (even dinosaurs) geographic distribution? one factor is that where they live they can produce their own body heat.
2. If dinosaurs lived on Earth today, which of these locations could they live? i think north america because 65 percent of the dinosaurs lived in north america an dthe would have baby dinosaurs keeping the population alive.
3. Is there any location that presently does NOT have a climate that is suitable for dinosaurs? If so please explain how dinosaur fossils could be found there.antarctica because it is freezing cold, but there was fossils found there becaue millions of years ago it wasn’t as cold as it is today

Copy this into a new blog post. Tag it #3 and put it in the projects Category. Then, complete the information. It should only take you 1 class period to do this.

EQ: How do fossils show the changing environment of the Earth?

Millions of years ago, long before there were any people, there were dinosaurs.  Dinosaurs were land-dwelling reptiles that walked upright. There were lots of different kinds of dinosaurs that lived at different times. Dinosaurs were one of several kinds of prehistoric reptiles that lived during the Mesozoic Era, the “Age of Reptiles.”  Dinosaurs are believed to have shared some of the same characteristics of modern day reptiles. Modern reptiles are ectothermic (cold-blooded) vertebrates (have a backbone). Cold-blooded animals cannot control their own body temperature, so they rely on the sun’s energy to warm their bodies. Presently, reptiles can be found in various places throughout the world, including most of the world’s oceans. They are found in a broad range of habitats, from the bottom of ponds and lakes to the high mountains. However, they are especially abundant and diverse in the tropics and in deserts. The factor that limits where they can live is their inability to produce their own body heat. Therefore, no reptiles are found in extremely cold regions such as the polar oceans or Antarctica . (From http://www.solarnavigator.net/animal_kingdom/reptiles.htm)

Procedures:

1. Consider the locations listed in the chart for #3 below.  Based on the reading, predict which of these locations you would expect to have the most different kinds of dinosaur fossils. Why?
2. Predict which of these locations would have the least. Explain why.
3. Go to the following website: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/dinosaurs/
4. Use the website to determine the information about dinosaur fossils found at these locations:

1. Based on the reading, what is the one factor that limits reptiles (even dinosaurs) geographic distribution?
2. If dinosaurs lived on Earth today, which of these locations could they live?
3. Is there any location that presently does NOT have a climate that is suitable for dinosaurs? If so please explain how dinosaur fossils could be found there.

1. Organized our interactive notebooks
2. Did the House for Chapter 9, section 1 in our textbooks
3. Passed back Rock Test
4. Passed out progress reports

Homework: get progress report signed

Today we passed back our rock test. Unfortunately, most of us did not do too well on this test. We found out that we really didn’t study like we should have done. We then spent time correcting our test and going over it together. We will have a re-take in class on Friday. Those of you who were absent or haven’t taken the test yet will also take the re-take on Friday.

Homework: Get progress report signed, study for Rocks re-take

Today we took our first test on rocks and the rock cycle. I will do my best to get these back to you tomorrow (and on your progress report).

If you did not finish your test, you will have a chance to finish it tomorrow in class.

If you have not yet completed your Rock Around the World project, please let me know when you are done. You can either email me (janelle_wilson@gwinnett.k12.ga.us) or post a comment to this web site.

1. Today we finished working on our rock cycle lab. Modeling the Rock Cycle
2. We also filled in a rock cycle diagram. Rock Cycle
3. And we looked at our rock notes to help us study for Tuesday’s test. rock notes

Homework:

1. Study for Tuesday’s rock test: 35 questions – 25 multiple choice, 6 short answer, 1 short essay, and 3 rock identification questions; you will be given 3 actual rocks and a dichotomous key to identify the rock name; then you will need to tell me the type and subtype
2. You will turn in your rock cycle lab on Tuesday. It should already be complete

1. Today we finished working on our rock cycle lab. Modeling the Rock Cycle
2. We also filled in a rock cycle diagram. Rock Cycle
3. And we looked at our rock notes to help us study for Tuesday’s test. rock notes

Homework:

1. Study for Tuesday’s rock test: 32 questions – 25 multiple choice, 6 short answer, and 1 short essay
2. Remember, you will turn in your Modeling the Rock Cycle lab on Tuesday.

1. Today we finished working on our rock cycle lab. Modeling the Rock Cycle
2. We also filled in a rock cycle diagram. Rock Cycle
3. And we looked at our rock notes to help us study for Tuesday’s test. rock notes

Homework:

1. Complete rock cycle lab conclusions
2. Study for Tuesday’s rock test: 32 questions – 25 multiple choice, 6 short answer, and 1 short essay

We spent our last day in the computer for the Rock around the World project today. Your project is due tomorrow. As long as you have it posted to your web portfolio at some point tomorrow, it will not be counted late. Please be sure to tag your post #2 and put it in a new category called Projects.