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We offer a range of free interactive fossil workshops for primary and secondary school students delivered in person by scientists from the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences based at University College Cork.
Our workshops are suitable for primary classes from third class through to sixth class, and for secondary school Junior and Senior Cycle students. The workshop content is adapted to suit each age group.
The fossil workshops are directly linked to a variety of STEM subjects such as science and mathematics and link to important topics on the STEM curriculum such as climate change, biodiversity, animal behaviour, evolution, pollution, and even human physiology.
Students can interact with
real fossils
3D printed materials
2D and 3D puzzles
real laboratory equipment using UV light
Students work scientifically by
questioning
observing
investigating and experimenting
analysing - sorting and classifying
recording and communicating
We currently offer three workshops. Each workshop is approximately 3 hours in duration and comprises multiple interactive activities. Workshops can be delivered individually or as part of a complete series.
We have also developed a range of resources for you to try in your classroom check them out below!
The workshops include interaction with a collection of real Irish fossils on loan from the Education & Outreach Department, National Museum of Ireland.
This workshop comprises three lessons and nine activities that cover what fossils are, how they form, how to identify them, how to use clues in the rocks to learn how fossil animals lived and died, and how scientists study the (unseen) chemical properties of fossils using different tools and methods.
Learning outcomes
Learn what fossils are and how they form
Match cross-sections of fossils with handout images of fossils
Observe and handle real fossils and 3D-printed fossils
Discover how different fossils lived
Learn where in Ireland we find fossils
Learn about Ireland’s ancient environments
Learn about the various material properties of objects
Explore how scientists can measure these “unseen” properties
Discover what these properties can tell us about fossils
Links to curriculum
Science
Living things – Plants and animal life
Materials - Properties and characteristics of materials
Energy and forces – Light, magnetism and electricity
Environmental awareness - Science and the environment
Mathematics
Shape and space – 2D and 3D shapes and symmetry
Data – Representing and interpreting data
Geography
Natural environments – Rocks and soil
Summary of activities
Students examine 3D blocks with fossil cross-sections and match them with images of fossils. Students also explore the mode of life of ancient creatures to figure out if the fossils swam, stuck or slithered in their environments.
Students identify the victim of the Fossil Crime Scene by completing a jigsaw and matching this to the silhouette of a fossil. Students also investigate how the fossil died by examining rock samples and comparing them with various 'clues', e.g. volcanic ash, broken shells, and fossil poo!
Students sort balls of different materials based on their various visible and 'hidden' properties, e.g. magnetic, fluorescent, sink or float. Students will simulate how X-rays are analysed by scientists. Using a box of ping pong balls each painted with a different chemical symbol students have to search the box of balls for the heavy ones and count as many as they can in ten seconds!
This workshop comprises three activities. Students are introduced to the concept of trace fossils, the footprints, tracks and burrows of fossil animals. They experiment with different materials to explore which sediment (sand or mud) best preserves these imprints and explore how these can tell us how ancient animals lived and interacted with their environment.
Learning outcomes
Learn what trace fossils are and how they form
Match modern and ancient creatures to their imprints
Discover how sand and mud preserves imprints of animals
Discover what preserved footprints can tell us about ancient creatures
Links to curriculum
Science
Living things – Plant and animal life
Materials – Properties and characteristics of materials
Environmental awareness – Science and the environment
Mathematics
Shape and space – 2D and 3D shapes and symmetry
Measures – Length
Data – Representing and interpreting data
Geography
Natural environments – Rocks and soil
Summary of activities
Students investigate which sediment preserves the best trace of a fossil by pushing a fossil foot into boxes of sand and mud and recording the results. Students explore the famous Valentia Island trackway and investigate what ancient creature made these footprints. Students discover what dinosaurs they walk like by measuring their stride and comparing this to the stride of various dinosaurs.
This workshop comprises five activities. Students learn how rocks record environmental changes long ago. They also explore the effects these changes have on biodiversity through time by taking part in our exciting fossil gameshow, Wheel of Misfortune!
Learning outcomes
Learn how rocks record environmental change through time
Learn that fossils record biodiversity changes through time
Explore the effects of both local and global environmental changes
Discover how species adapt to environmental changes
Links to curriculum
Science
Living things – Plant and animal life
Environmental awareness – Science and the environment
Mathematics
Measures – Length
Data – Representing and interpreting data
Geography
Natural environments – Rocks and soil
Summary of activities
Students record the numbers and types of fossils in 10 boxes and investigate why the numbers of fossils change in each box. Students estimate the distance that the effects of a meteorite impact would travel across the globe. Students discuss the impacts of various environmental changes on biodiversity by playing our game 'Wheel of Misfortune'.
We have developed a range of teaching resources for you to use in your classroom including presentation slides, information guides to the presentations, activities and coming soon educational videos. Please select a topic below to view the resources available.
This lesson will introduce the students to what fossils are, how they form, how old they are and where you can find them. Click on the links below to download PDF slides and an information guide to the slides. There is also an activity to go with this lesson and a guide to the activity.
This lesson will introduce pupils to some common Irish fossils and discuss the environment they lived in millions of years ago. Click on the links below to download PDF slides and an information guide to the slides. There is also an activity to go with this lesson and a guide to the activity.
This lesson will introduce pupils to trace fossils - the footprints, tracks and burrows of fossil animals. The lesson will explore how these can tell us how ancient animals lived and interacted with their environment. Click on the links below to download PDF slides and an information guide to the slides. There is also an activity to go with this lesson and a guide to the activity.
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