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Exploring Ancient Life and Its Relationship to the Energy Industry

6th Grade Earth Science

Content Topics

  • Paleontology
  • Fossil Fuels
  • Geology

Duration 1.5 Hours

Objective: 

Students will be able to explain the relationship between ancient life forms, such as dinosaurs and fossil plants, and the energy industry, specifically fossil fuels. Students will describe the connection between layers of sediment, sedimentary rock, fossils, and dinosaurs. Students will learn how ancient plants contribute to the formation of fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) and explore how these fuels are used in today’s energy industry.

Overview and Purpose:

Students learn how ancient plants and animals become fossil fuels and how these fossil fuels connect Earth’s past ecosystems to the energy we use today.

Guiding Questions: 

  • How do layers of sediment and sedimentary rock preserve evidence of ancient life?
  • How do fossils help us understand ecosystems that existed millions of years ago?
  • What roles did ancient plants and organisms play in forming fossil fuels?
  • How are fossil fuels extracted and used in today’s energy industry?
  • Why is understanding ancient life important for understanding modern energy resources?

Education Standards:

  • MS-LS4-1: Analyze and interpret fossil data to identify patterns in Earth’s history.
  • MS-ESS2-2: Construct explanations based on evidence for how geoscience processes change Earth’s surface over time, including sediment formation.
  • MS-ESS3-1: Construct explanations for how natural resources, including fossil fuels, result from geological processes.
  • MS-ESS3-4: Evaluate solutions or understandings related to human impact on Earth's resources and energy use .

Materials and Resources:

Local Resources:

Part 1 (45 min)

Introduction/ Hook:

Have students discuss plants and animals that are on our planet now. Tell them that today, they are going to meet a friend that is going to tell them about plants and animals that lived on earth many, many, many years ago. Begin with a short, engaging video about dinosaurs and ancient plants.

  • Ask the students, "What do you think happened to the plants and dinosaurs after they died?"
  • Have students share their thoughts with a partner, then some will share with the class.


Presentation:

Present the introduction slideshow to the students. Pausing to discuss pictures and reading the script provided. Point out that the world was changing throughout each time period, causing different fossils to be present. 


Activity: 

  • Present a short, interactive discussion on fossils, explaining how they are formed over time.
  • Use visuals of fossils and fossil fuels while explaining their connections.
  • In small groups, students will examine different fossils (pictures or replicas) and discuss what type of ancient life they represent.

Ask guiding questions such as:

  • "What type of environment did this organism live in?"
  • "How do you think this organism contributed to its ecosystem?"
  • Does it look like a plant, animal or something else?
  • "What fossil fuel might this organism help create?"

Part 2 (40 Min)

Activity or discussion:

Opening:

  • Start with a question: "What do you think dinosaurs and ancient plants have to do with the energy we use today?"
  • Show a short video clip of fossil fuels being extracted and used, followed by a class discussion.

Introduction to New Material:

  • Present a slideshow that covers the key points listed, incorporating visuals of fossils, ancient ecosystems, and the fossilization process.
  • Engage students by asking them to share what they know about dinosaurs and plants.
  • Anticipated misconception: Students may believe that fossil fuels are formed from bones alone, rather than understanding the role of ancient plants and the entire ecosystem.

Guided Practice:

Break students into small groups to analyze different types of fossils (images) and discuss how they might relate to fossil fuels.

Use guiding questions:

  • "What kind of organism do you think this fossil came from?"
  • "How might this organism contribute to fossil fuel formation?"

Independent Practice:

Assign students to create a visual presentation (poster or digital) that includes:

  • Illustrations of at least three ancient life forms relevant to fossil fuel formation.
  • A description of how these life forms contributed to the creation of fossil fuels.
  • The current uses of these fossil fuels in today’s energy industry.

Assessment (exit ticket/ quiz/ kahoot/ etc.) (5 Min)

  • Have students present their visual projects in a gallery walk format where they can visit and learn from each other's work.
  • Conclude with a group discussion reflecting on what they learned about the connection between ancient life and fossil fuels.