I was very fortunate to already know the standards I was going to cover with my externship before I even started.  Even though I didn’t know exactly what I would be doing, I knew that I would be looking at fossils and that fit perfectly with my 8th grade science curriculum.  I know I was very fortunate to have my experience fit in so seamlessly with my curriculum and so our amazing paleo  group has already finished a good chunk of our lesson plans.  We have also added in readings, history of our dig site, and we are graphing our data so that our lessons are cross curricular!

The main lesson that our mentor wanted from our group was for the students to measure and record the size of the teeth they found from the sample I brought back from the Aurora Phosphate Mine.  From this lesson alone I will be able to connect it to the 8th grade standard 8.L.4.1 (biological classification and evolution).   I have also learned a lot about evolution and geology which I will also be able to implement in my classroom next year.

I’m so excited!!