Earth's History & the Fossil Record Interactive Simulation | Life Science | Grades 6–8

This Interactive Simulation has grades 6–8 Middle School Life Science students run a hands-on classroom model of Earth's History & the Fossil Record.

Driving question: "How can geologists correlate sedimentary rock strata and index fossils across multiple canyon sites to construct a unified geologic timeline and identify an ancient mass extinction?" Objective: Students will model sedimentary rock deposition, correlate five stratigraphic core columns using index fossils and a volcanic ash marker bed, and calculate species extinction percentages across a geologic boundary.

What's inside: objective and background, a materials list (Set of 5 clear plastic core tubes…; Packet of 24 miniature 3D-printed or…; Stratigraphic correlation chart…; Colored pencils for sketching rock…), an 8-step protocol, a data table, 4 analysis questions, and teacher notes.

Resource type: Interactive Simulation (.docx). Format: editable Microsoft Word lab handout with approximately 810 words (~5 pages).

Classroom use: a team investigation in a Middle School Life Science course. Grades 6–8.

Format note: These files are delivered in Microsoft Office formats (Word and/or PowerPoint). If you open a worksheet that includes tables in Apple Pages or another non-Microsoft app, table formatting may not display correctly. For best results, use Microsoft Word or PowerPoint (or upload the file to Google Docs). If you run into any formatting issues, contact us and we can send a PDF version.