Lesson Plan - Uncovering a Giant 

Watch the Video
Watch the video “What Are Fossils?” and discuss: Based on the video, how do fossils form? What are some of the different kinds of fossils that paleontologists study?

Preview Words to Know
Project the online vocabulary slideshow and introduce the Words to Know.

• fossils
• paleontologist

Set a Purpose for Reading
As students read, have them think about what makes the bones that Ruby found special.

1. Why do you think the author calls the fossils that Ruby and her dad found “an amazing discovery”?
Sample response: The author calls the fossils “an amazing discovery” because they belonged to the largest ocean reptile ever found. The creature was an ichthyosaur no one knew of before. 
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2. What does the article tell you about the job of a paleontologist?
The article gives several clues about the job of a paleontologist. It says that paleontologists study creatures that lived long ago, like ichthyosaurs. It also explains that these scientists use shovels to dig for fossils, then work to identify the living thing those fossils came from.
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3. What is the purpose of the sidebar, “Measuring Up”?
The purpose of the sidebar, “Measuring Up,” is to show how the size of Ichthyotitan severnensis compares with the size of sea creatures that are alive today.
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FEATURED SKILL: Reading a Diagram
Use the skill builder “Two Kinds of Fossils” to help students compare body fossils and trace fossils and to note what scientists can learn from each kind.
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