National Park Service U.S. Department of Interior Junior Paleontologist

Activity Book Ages 5 - 12

Explore • Learn • Protect Become a Junior Paleontologist The National Park Service protects natural places and historic sites all across the United States. Today, more than 220 national parks are known to preserve fossils!

There are many places to see and discover these fossils in person.

In this book you can learn about ancient life, complete fun activities, and explore just some of the national parks that offer you a look into the past.

Explore the ways that paleontologists work, and the methods and tools they use to understand ancient life. EXPLORE

LEARN Learn about Earth’s history, ancient plants and animals, and changes to past climate and environments. PROTECT

Protect our national parks, including fossils and the rocks in which they are found.

Activities in this book are marked with an age indicator. Look for the symbols below:

TRILOBITE SAUROPOD SABER-TOOTH CAT Ages 5 and up. Ages 8 and up. Ages 10 and up.

How old are you? ______That is the number of activities you must complete to become a Junior Paleontologist. Feel free to complete more activities if you have the time. Paleo-Park Passport More than 220 national park areas preserve fossils. Some of these parks were created specifically because of the fossils. Use this page to collect cancellation stamps from fossil parks you visit.

Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, NE Florissant Fossils Beds National Monument, CO Joshua Tree National Park, CA Bering Land Bridge National Preserve, AK Fossil Butte National Monument, WY Mammoth Cave National Park, KY Big Bend National Park, TX Glacier National Park, MT Petrified Forest National Park, AZ Channel Islands National Park, CA Grand Canyon National Park, AZ Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve, AK Death Valley National Park, CA & NV Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument, ID Zion National Park, UT Dinosaur National Monument, UT & CO John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, OR Road to Fossilization (#1)

It takes a lot of luck and good timing to become a fossil. Big creatures with hard parts (bones and shells) that die where sediment is collecting have the best chance at preservation. Fragile or small things are rarer fossils.

Follow the Road to Fossilization and discover more about how fossils form.

Organism stays at the surface and does not get buried quickly. Organism dies and escapes destruction LOSE A TURN by scavengers.

MOVE AHEAD 1 SPACE

Body parts were Start scattered by wind or (Death) water before burial.

MOVE BACK 3 SPACES To Play: Use something small like a dime or small candy as your game piece and place it on start.

With a partner, take turns flipping a coin to move your game piece: heads you move two spaces, tails you move three spaces.

Follow the instructions on the purple spaces along the way. The first player to discover the fossil wins! Fossils are rare and cannot be replaced. It is exciting to find one, but important to protect it and keep it in place.

If you find a fossil in a national park, leave the fossil where it is and share your discovery with a park ranger.

Remains of the organism are turned slowly to stone over time.

MOVE AHEAD 1 SPACE

Paleontologists are very important in national parks. They help the National Park Service protect fossils by finding them and teaching visitors to protect them. Erosion of rocks exposes fossils, but bones are damaged.

MOVE BACK 1 SPACE Body parts were scattered by wind or water before burial.

MOVE BACK 3 SPACES Paleontologist makes a bad map ! of the fossil site.

MOVE BACK 3 SPACES Discovered Fossil Hunters (#2)

A paleontologist uses fossils to understand the story of Earth’s history. This story includes the plants and animals that once lived on Earth. Evidence of this past life is found by paleontologists within sedimentary rocks. These rocks are made of the broken pieces of other rocks called sediment that have become compacted or cemented together over time. Sediment can be clay, sand, or gravel. Rocks can form on land or in water. An ancient beach might leave behind sand which forms into sandstone. Ocean sediments could develop into marine shale made of clay, or limestone from broken down shells. If the remains of an animal or plant, like bones or leaves, are covered by sediments, a fossil may become preserved in the rock formed from these sediments.

Now it is your turn to hunt for fossil-bearing b p i g o b o n e s rocks and the stories they hold! s a n d s t o n e r Find the underlined words in the text s l m a e l c l a j above in the word search. Words may go up, u e n i d o r l m p down, or diagonally. f o s s i l s i a a l n e o m n t m r y When you finish, write down the unused letters in order in the spaces below to reveal a t i m e s o e i l a hidden message! n o s o n h g s n i c l s h t e r t e t i o w i a l l o l f e g i n r l d n c t n i h e y s e e m k t s a n i m a l s a l t l p l a n t s !

“______, ______

______

______” Fossil Types (#3)

Did you know that footprints made by an ancient animal or the imprint of a leaf can be considered a fossil? Fossils are evidence of life preserved within a geologic context. Paleontologists study both the fossil and the rocks that they are preserved in to understand past life forms and the environment in which they lived.

Write the letter of each picture in the box of the fossil type it represents. B Vertebrate Fossils A Animals with backbones (vertebrae) are known as vertebrates. Mammal, fish, and dinosaur bones or teeth are all examples of vertebrate fossils. Fossils:______Hint: A is not a plant fossil. Invertebrate Fossils Animals without backbones are C D known as invertebrates. Shells and exoskeletons help organisms like clams and corals to be preserved. Fossils:______

Plant Fossils Fossil plant remains include petrified wood, leaves, cones, seeds, pollen, and sometimes even flowers. Amber is tree sap and can preserve other organisms. E Fossils:______F Trace Fossils Trace fossils–tracks, burrows, and coprolites (ancient poop!)–are evidence of organisms interacting with their environment. Fossils:______

Paleontology vs. Archeology PALEONTOLOGISTS and ARCHEOLOGISTS are scientists who dig and study old things from the ground. They both use the same tools and techniques to look for things in sedimentary rocks, but there are some big differences too.

ARCHEOLOGISTS study the remains of human history, culture and civilizations. PALEONTOLOGISTS study the remains of past animals and plants and how they have changed.

Fossil shark tooth Ancient arrowhead

Plant: D Plant: race: C, F C, race: T Vertebrate: E Invertebrate: B, F B, Invertebrate: E Vertebrate: Paleontologist’s Scrapbook (#4)

Paleontologists are scientists who study what life was like on Earth a very long time ago. They do this by “reading” fossils and rocks for clues about past environments and life. Look at the pictures below and fill in the missing word to find out some of what paleontologists do.

WORD BANK Applying Digging Sealing Looking Brushing

______at fossil bones with the help of a microscope.

______fossil bones in plaster jacket for transport. For every hour they spend in the field, paleontologists spend at least three hours in the lab. Imagine that for every hour you spent playing outside you then ______a jaw bone out of had three hours of the rock with a rock hammer. homework!

Imagine yourself as a paleontologist. Draw a picture of yourself ______glue to a at work and write a caption to describe it. petrified wood stump in the field.

______

______away sediment from bones inside an opened plaster cast. The Right Stuff (#5) Paleontologists use many tools to find and clean fossils. Draw lines to match the images to what they are used for.

Toilet Paper Dental Picks Brush

Wipe away sediment from fossils

Move large amounts of sediment

Wrap up fossil material before applying plaster

Pick grains of sediment out of cracks

Break open fossil-bearing rocks

Take notes on fossil collection site

Shovel Rock Hammer Notebook

Find the Fossil (#6) It is not always easy to see fossils in rocks.

Search the pictures below carefully and circle your 9 fossil finds.

The fossils in these pictures are very different from each other. Each lived at a different time and formed in different ways. More information about fossil types can be found on page 6 of this book. GeologicGeologic TimeTime (#7)(#7)

EarthEarth formedformed 4.64.6 billionbillion yearsyears ago.ago. WeWe cancan dividedivide thatthat timetime intointo smallersmaller sectionssections calledcalled eons,eons, eras,eras, andand periods.periods. PaleontologistsPaleontologists areare interestedinterested inin thesethese differentdifferent timestimes becausebecause eacheach hadhad uniqueunique plantsplants andand animals.animals. TheThe colorscolors belowbelow representrepresent 44 majormajor divisionsdivisions ofof geologicgeologic time–thetime–the Precambrian,Precambrian, PaleozoicPaleozoic Era,Era, MesozoicMesozoic Era,Era, andand CenozoicCenozoic Era.Era. First,First, drawdraw aa lineline fromfrom eacheach picturepicture ofof aa majormajor eventevent toto wherewhere itit wouldwould fallfall onon thethe timetime line.line. Then,Then, usingusing thethe picturespictures andand eventsevents asas clues,clues, labellabel eacheach coloredcolored sectionsection asas oneone ofof thethe followingfollowing Ages:Ages: Mammals,Mammals, Fishes,Fishes, EarlyEarly Life,Life, oror ReptilesReptiles..

EOOCMESOZOIC CENOZOIC TODAY

EOOCMESOZOIC CENOZOIC TODAY

2525 ThousandThousand yearsyears ago:ago: SmilodonSmilodon 6565 MillionMillion YearsYears AgoAgo 125125 millionmillion andand otherother MassMass ExtinctionExtinction yearsyears ago:ago: mammalsmammals FloweringFlowering dominate.dominate. plantsplants appear.appear.

220220 millionmillion yearsyears ago:ago: 251251 MillionMillion YearsYears AgoAgo DinosaursDinosaurs likelike MassMass ExtinctionExtinction CoelophysisCoelophysis appear.appear. brachiopod 440440 millionmillion PALEOZOIC PALEOZOIC yearsyears ago:ago: CycadsCycads andand fernsferns growgrow onon land.land.

500500 millionmillion 542542 MillionMillion YearsYears AgoAgo yearsyears ago:ago: ExplosionExplosion ofof DiverseDiverse LifeLife TrilobitesTrilobites andand fishfish dominatedominate thethe seas.seas. zooplankton PRECAMBRIAN PRECAMBRIAN 22 billionbillion yearsyears ago:ago: StromatoliteStromatolite FromFrom 4.64.6 billionbillion yearsyears agoago untiluntil 542542 coloniescolonies millionmillion yearsyears agoago waswas aa timetime periodperiod formedformed inin calledcalled thethe Precambrian.Precambrian. shallowshallow warmwarm sea worm waters.waters. IfIf wewe mademade thisthis timelinetimeline toto scalescale thethe

redred barbar wouldwould taketake upup 44 pages!pages!

Mesozoic: Reptiles Mesozoic: Cenozoic: Mammals Cenozoic: Mesozoic: Reptiles Cenozoic: Mammals Cenozoic: Reptiles Mesozoic:

Precambrian: Early Life Paleozoic: Fishes Paleozoic: Life Early Precambrian: 4.64.6 BillionBillion YearsYears AgoAgo Fish Paleozoic: Life Early Precambrian:

318495_Book3.indd 10 4/16/10 2:10 PM It’sIt’s AllAll RelativeRelative (#8)(#8)

AtAt Grand Grand Canyon Canyon National National Park, Park, Arizona, Arizona, thethe rocks rocks form form neat neat layers. layers. You You can can see see their their differentdifferent colors colors in in this this picture. picture. These These layers layers cancan help help paleontologists paleontologists find find outout the the ageage ofof aa fossil fossil by by using using relative relative age age dating. dating.

RelativeRelative age age dating dating is is a a way way to to compare compare GrandGrand the age of different fossils in a section of CanyonCanyon National National the age of different fossils in a section of Park is home to a great rock based upon their position. This gives a Park is home to a great rock based upon their position. This gives a collection of Paleozoic general idea of what is older or younger. collection of Paleozoic general idea of what is older or younger. fossils.fossils. They’re They’re hiding hiding inin these these layers! layers! ToTo get get exact exact ages, ages, paleontologists paleontologists use use absoluteabsolute age age dating dating techniques techniques like like testing testing thethe minerals minerals of of volcanic volcanic rocks. rocks. Cenozoic mammal jaw Cenozoic clamclam mammal jaw RULESRULES OF OF RELATIVE RELATIVE AGE AGE DATING: DATING: #1:#1: Sediments Sediments were were originally originally laid laid down down flat. flat. #2:#2: The The oldest oldest rocks rocks are are found found on on the the bottom. bottom. #3:#3: Fossils Fossils in in the the same same layer layer are are the the same same age. age.

brachiopod snail brachiopod snail Paleozoic Paleozoic

UsingUsing the the rock rock column column to to the the left left and and the the rules rules foundfound above, above, compare compare the the ages ages of of the the fossils fossils and and trilobitetrilobite clamclam answeranswer some some questions. questions. (HINT:(HINT: Use Use the the timeline timeline on on page page 9 9 to to help help you!) you!)

WhichWhich is is older: older: the the mammal mammal jaw jaw or or the the sea sea worm? worm? Precambrian zooplanktonzooplankton jellyfishjellyfish Precambrian

WhichWhich is is older: older: the the trilobite trilobite or or the the jellyfish? jellyfish?

WhatWhat time time period period is is not not shown? shown?

phytoplanktonphytoplankton sea worm sea worm WhichWhich organism organism was was around around for for the the most most time time periods? periods?

318495_Book3.indd 11 4/16/10 2:10 PM ClimateClimate ChangeChange (#9(#9)) TheThe storystory ofof lifelife onon EarthEarth beganbegan inin aa timetime knownknown asas thethe Precambrian.Precambrian. DuringDuring thisthis timetime soft-bodiedsoft-bodied creaturescreatures likelike wormsworms andand jellyfishjellyfish lived lived in in thethe world’sworld’s oceansoceans whilewhile thethe land land remainedremained barren.barren. LookingLooking atat thethe worldworld today,today, wewe cancan seesee thatthat thingsthings havehave changedchanged aa lot.lot.

InIn GlacierGlacier NationalNational Park,Park, Montana,Montana, wewe cancan learnlearn aboutabout climateclimate changechange fromfrom somesome ofof thethe firstfirst life life forms:forms: ancientancient plant-likeplant-like organismsorganisms calledcalled algaealgae ((al-geeal-gee).). PrecambrianPrecambrian algaealgae formedformed largelarge coloniescolonies calledcalled stromatolitesstromatolites inin warm,warm, tropicaltropical waters.waters. OverOver timetime thesethese coloniescolonies werewere buriedburied underunder seasea sedimentsediment andand turnedturned toto stone.stone.

TheThe landscapelandscape alsoalso tellstells usus aboutabout climateclimate change.change. WhenWhen thethe RockyRocky MountainsMountains formed,formed, rocksrocks thatthat hadhad beenbeen atat thethe bottombottom ofof thethe oceanocean werewere foldedfolded andand pushedpushed upup highhigh intointo thethe skysky whilewhile thethe NorthNorth AmericanAmerican continentcontinent movedmoved north.north. GlaciersGlaciers carvedcarved thethe landscapelandscape creatingcreating ruggedrugged mountainsmountains thatthat wewe seesee todaytoday andand paleontologistspaleontologists findfind ancientancient tropicaltropical algaealgae underunder ice ice ModernModern stromatolites stromatolites forming forming near near andand snow!snow! SharkShark Bay, Bay, Australia. Australia.

RangerRanger TalkTalk ClimateClimate hashas changedchanged manymany timestimes inin thethe Earth’sEarth’s history.history. ManyMany scientistsscientists areare studyingstudying howhow climateclimate isis changingchanging today.today. AskAsk aa Ranger:Ranger: DoesDoes thisthis parkpark havehave anyany evidenceevidence ofof climateclimate change?change?

HowHow havehave plantsplants andand animalsanimals changedchanged herehere overover time?time?

ClimateClimate changechange is is not not a a thingthing of of the the past. past. Today, Today, scientistsscientists are are studying studying how how quicklyquickly temperatures temperatures and and weatherweather patterns patterns are are changing changing FossilizedFossilized stromatolites stromatolites in in Glacier Glacier onon Earth. Earth. With With over over 6 6 billion billion NationalNational Park, Park, Montana. Montana. peoplepeople on on the the planet, planet, humanshumans are are affecting affecting the the

climate.climate.

318495_Book3.indd 12 4/16/10 2:10 PM BuriedBuried TreasuresTreasures (#10)(#10) YouYou cancan tracetrace thethe transitiontransition fromfrom PrecambrianPrecambrian lifelife toto moremore complexcomplex creaturescreatures inin Yukon-Yukon- CharleyCharley RiversRivers NationalNational PreservePreserve inin Alaska.Alaska. This park protects one of the best continuous TheThe fossilsfossils This park protects one of the best continuous foundfound withinwithin thethe records of ancient life in the world – from preservepreserve areare notnot thethe onlyonly records of ancient life in the world – from treasures. Gold mines were 800800 millionmillion toto 4040 millionmillion yearsyears ago.ago. treasures. Gold mines were activeactive throughthrough thethe 1930s,1930s, withwith the last mine closing in 1977. Fossils found there include everything from the last mine closing in 1977. Fossils found there include everything from CreatingCreating thisthis nationalnational preservepreserve PrecambrianPrecambrian seasea creaturescreatures likelike jellyfishjellyfish andand hashas savedsaved thesethese fossilsfossils forfor wormsworms toto PleistocenePleistocene pollenpollen fromfrom landland plantsplants study and discovery. thatthat livedlived inin thethe areaarea tenstens ofof thousandsthousands ofof study and discovery. yearsyears ago.ago.

YouYou cancan practicepractice stewardship–protectingstewardship–protecting naturalnatural areas–byareas–by helpinghelping toto preservepreserve Yukon-Charley Rivers in this game. Yukon-Charley Rivers in this game. CitizensCitizens concernedconcerned withwith protectingprotecting aa naturalnatural oror historichistoric Follow the directions to save squares of Follow the directions to save squares of areaarea maymay workwork toto getget thatthat placeplace land one at a time. land one at a time. designateddesignated asas aa nationalnational park.park. WhatWhat elseelse cancan youyou dodo toto protectprotect importantimportant areasareas aroundaround you?you?

ToTo Play:Play: TakeTake turnsturns connectingconnecting 22 dotsdots withwith aa solidsolid line.line. WhenWhen aa player’splayer’s lineline makesmakes aa square,square, thatthat playerplayer putsputs initialsinitials thethe squaresquare andand takestakes anotheranother turn.turn. TheThe playerplayer withwith thethe mostmost squaressquares wins!wins!

ClimateClimate changechange isis notnot aa thingthing ofof thethe past.past. Today,Today, scientistsscientists areare studyingstudying howhow quicklyquickly temperaturestemperatures andand weatherweather patternspatterns areare changingchanging onon Earth.Earth. WithWith overover 66 billionbillion peoplepeople onon thethe planet,planet, humanshumans areare affectingaffecting thethe climate.climate. Yukon-CharleyYukon-Charley RiversRivers National National Preserve, Preserve, AK AK

318495_Book3.indd 13 4/16/10 2:11 PM WetWet andand WildWild (#11)(#11)

TheThe Paleozoic Paleozoic began began with with a a huge huge change change in in life life called called the the Cambrian Cambrian Explosion. Explosion. Many Many never-before- never-before- seenseen creatures creatures with with shells shells and and new new body body designs designs are are found found in in rocks rocks from from this this time time period. period. The The late late PaleozoicPaleozoic Era Era is is known known as as the the Age Age of of the the Fishes Fishes because because the the first first fishfish appearedappeared andand rapidlyrapidly evolvedevolved duringduring this this time time period. period.

ReadRead the the bubbles bubbles of of information information to to find find outout moremore aboutabout thethe PaleozoicPaleozoic eraera andand answeranswer thethe questions. questions.

NorthNorth America America lookedlooked very very differentdifferent during during this this time.time. It It was was near near the the equatorequator with with water water coveringcovering much much ofof today’s today’s dry dry land. land. WouldWould your your hometown hometown have have beenbeen dry dry during during this this time? time?

UnitedUnited States States during during the the late late Paleozoic Paleozoic Era, Era, 400 400 million million years years ago. ago. 15 .16 ..15 .16 Connect the dots to see a Paleozoic 14 .17 Connect the dots to see a Paleozoic Era ..14 .17 fish called a placoderm. 7 .18 fish called a placoderm. ..7 .8 .18 .8 9 5 .9 13 .5 .6 . 10 .13 PlantsPlants . .6 ..10 . .4 .11 12 began to take .4 .11 ..12 began to take .19 rootroot on on land, land, .19 with ferns and 3 with ferns and ..3 conifersconifers providing providing food to land 20 food to land ..20 animals.animals. 21 .21 22 . 2 ..22 ..2

HowHow are are these these plants plants .1 .1 47 .23 .52 .47 .23 different than those near .52 49. 24 different than those near .50..49 ..24 your home? .50 .25 your home? 27 .25 ..27 51 .48 ..51 .48 46 26 ..46 ..26 .39 .41 .39 .41 45 ..45 .28 44 .28 29 .40 ..44 ..29 38.40 .42 .43 ..38 .42 .43 30 33 ..30 ..33 .37 .35 34 .37 36 .35 .34 .31 .36 . .31 . 32 ..32

318495_Book3.indd 14 4/16/10 2:11 PM Mammoth Mammoth Cave National Park, Other Cave National Park, Other Kentucky, formed out Kentucky, formed out sea life, like the of Paleozoic limestone. sea life, like the of Paleozoic limestone. trilobites, also thrived This limestone eroded trilobites, also thrived Thisas limestonewater flowed eroded in the Paleozoic waters. as water flowed inTrilobites the Paleozoic were marine waters. through and created Trilobites were marine through and created arthropods, meaning they magnificent arthropods, meaning they magnificentcaves. are distantly related to caves. are distantly related to shrimp, crabs!lobsters, and shrimp, crabs!lobsters, and

WhatWhat do do you you think think a a trilobite trilobite felt felt like? like?

Fossil fish fromFossil the Paleozoicfish from range the Paleozoic range in size from less in size from less than 1 foot up than 1 foot up Fish-like to 33 feet Fish-like to 33 feet creatures long. movedcreatures onto long. land,moved using strong onto land, using strong fins to move fins to move about the Some about the fish, Somecalled shores. placoderms,fish, called shores. had hardplacoderms, armor had hard armor and sharp jaws makingand them sharp fierce jaws making them fierce predators of the predators of the What animals today live part of their lives in the Paleozoic seas. What animals today live part of their lives in the Paleozoic seas. waterwater and and part part on on land? land?

.15 .16 .15 .16 .14 .17 .14 .17 .7 .18 .7 .8 .18 .8 .9 .5 .6 .9 .13 .5 .6 .10 .13 .4 .10 .11 .4 .11 .12 .12 .19 .19 .3 .3 .20 .20 .21 .22 .21 .2 .22 .2

.1 .1 .23 .52 .47 .23 .52 .49 .47 .24 .50 49 .24 .50. .25 .27 .25 .27 At the end .51 .48 At the end 51 .48 .46 .26 . 46 26 of the Paleozoic, a . . of the Paleozoic, a .39 .41 huge extinction event .39 .41 .45 huge extinction event .45 .28 changed life on the planet .44 .28 .29 changed life on the planet .40 .44 .29 once again. 70% of all .38 .40 .42 .43 once again. 70% of all .38 .42 .43 land organisms and 95% .30 landof allorganisms marine speciesand 95% .33 30 ofbecame all marine extinct species at 33 . that time. .37 .35 . becamethat extinct time. at .37 .35 .34 .31 .36 .34 .31 .36 .32 .32

318495_Book3.indd 15 4/16/10 2:11 PM A-maze-ingA-maze-ing FindsFinds (#12)(#12) TheThe Mesozoic Mesozoic Era Era began began with with recovery recovery from from the the PermianPermian Extinction. Extinction. During During the the Triassic Triassic Period, Period, reptilesreptiles started started taking taking over over many many environments environments includingincluding the the hot, hot, forested forested environments environments of of NorthNorth America. America.

Today,Today, you you can can imagine imagine the the 250 250 foot foot tall tall trees trees thatthat lived lived here here by by visiting visiting the the fossilized fossilized trees trees of of PetrifiedPetrified Forest Forest NationalNational Park, Park, Arizona.Arizona. CompleteComplete the the maze maze to to find find your your wayway throughthrough the the petrified petrified tree tree stump. stump.

ToTo become become petrified, petrified, the the trees trees above above werewere covered covered in in wetwet sediment.sediment. Over Over time time the the chemicals chemicals in in the the trees trees were were replaced replaced withwith other other chemicals chemicals and and the the wood wood turned turned to to stone. stone.

GrassGrass and and floweringflowering plants plants diddid not not appear appear until until thethe end end of of the the Mesozoic Mesozoic Era,Era, about about 120 120 million million yearsyears ago. ago. Until Until then then STARTSTART ENDEND ferns,ferns, cycads, cycads, and and conifersconifers dominated. dominated.

CycadsCycads havehave tough, tough, scaleyscaley bark bark on on their their trunkstrunks and and bright bright cones.cones. Can Can you you find find oneone on on the the next next page?page?

TheThe Triassic Triassic marks marks the the first first appearance appearance of ofdinosaurs. dinosaurs. OneOne of ofthe the earliestearliest dinosaurs, dinosaurs, the the 4 4foot foot tall tall Coelophysis Coelophysis (see-low-fi-sus (see-low-fi-sus), ), livedlived among among the the giant giant trees trees in in Petrified Petrified Forest. Forest.

EarlyEarly dinosaurs dinosaurs were were often often smaller smaller than than the the giants giants of of later later times times likelike Tyrannosaurus Tyrannosaurus rex rex or or Stegosaurus. Stegosaurus.

318495_Book3.indd 16 4/16/10 2:11 PM TheThe RealReal JurassicJurassic ParkPark (#13)(#13)

DinosaurDinosaur National National Monument, Monument, Utah Utah and and Colorado Colorado preserves preserves an an amazing amazing recordrecord of of Jurassic Jurassic fossils fossils including including dinosaur dinosaur bones bones and and fossilized fossilized clams. clams. Dinosaurs,Dinosaurs, just just like like living living things things today, today, were were specially specially suited suited for for their their environments.environments. Plant-eating Plant-eating Diplodocus Diplodocus and and meat-eating meat-eating Allosaurus Allosaurus both both had had toto find find foodfood andand sheltershelter in in thethe environmentsenvironments ofof thethe time.time.

ImagineImagine what what the the Jurassic Jurassic forest forest of of conifers, conifers, ferns, ferns, and and cycads cycads would would offer offer to to aa dinosaur dinosaur that that lived lived there. there. Draw Draw your your Jurassic Jurassic creature creature below. below.

318495_Book3.indd 17 4/16/10 2:11 PM EverythingEverything is is Bigger Bigger in in Texas Texas (#14) (#14) BigBig Bend Bend GiantsGiants ruled ruled the the late late Mesozoic Mesozoic Era. Era. Paleontologists Paleontologists have have found found the the remains remains of of dinosaurs, dinosaurs, flying flying reptilesreptiles called called pterosaurs, pterosaurs, and and others others in in the the Cretaceous Cretaceous rocks rocks of of Big Big Bend Bend National National Park, Park, Texas. Texas. NationalNational Park Park also also TheseThese enormous enormous creatures creatures (some (some bigger bigger than than blue blue whales!) whales!) dominated dominated the the land land for for millions millions of of years years preservespreserves evidence evidence of of the the beforebefore they they became became extinct extinct at at the the end end of of the the Cretaceous Cretaceous Period, Period, about about 120 120 million million years years ago. ago. Cretaceous-TertiaryCretaceous-Tertiary (K-T)(K-T) boundary. boundary. This This is is the the layer layer CompareCompare yourself yourself to to these these giant giant creatures creatures and and find find out out how how big big they they really really were!were! Fill Fill in in your your whichwhich separates separates the the Mesozoic Mesozoic heightheight and and answer answer the the questions. questions. EraEra from from the the Cenozoic Cenozoic Era Era and and containscontains evidence evidence of of a alarge large impactimpact thought thought to to be be one one of of thethe causes causes of of dinosaur dinosaur CouldCould you you have have fit fit inside inside the the mouthmouth of of a ahungry hungry Deinosuchus Deinosuchus? ?Could Could your your parents? parents? extinction.extinction. ______

HowHow many many people people your your height height could could lay lay down down for for a aride ride on on the the wings wings of of Quetzacoatlus Quetzacoatlus?? ______

HowHow many many feet feet longer longer is is the the Alamosaurus Alamosaurus than than you you are are tall? tall? ______

MakeMake up up your your own own question question to to ask ask a aparent parent or or friend: friend: ______?______?

You: ______feet tall

DeinosuchusDeinosuchus: :6 6 foot foot jaws jaws

318495_Book3.indd 18 4/16/10 2:11 PM QuetzacoatlusQuetzacoatlus:: 4040 footfoot wingspanwingspan

BigBig Bend Bend NationalNational Park Park also also preservespreserves evidence evidence of of the the Cretaceous-TertiaryCretaceous-Tertiary (K-T)(K-T) boundary. boundary. This This is is the the layer layer whichwhich separates separates the the Mesozoic Mesozoic EraEra from from the the Cenozoic Cenozoic Era Era and and containscontains evidence evidence of of a a large large impactimpact thought thought to to be be one one of of the causes of dinosaur the causesextinction.extinction. of dinosaur

AlamosaurusAlamosaurus:: 100100 feetfeet longlong What’sWhat’s inin aa name?name? DeinosuchusDeinosuchus ((di-no-soo-kussdi-no-soo-kuss)) meansmeans terribleterrible crocodile.crocodile.

QuetzacoatlusQuetzacoatlus ((ket-za-co-ot-lusket-za-co-ot-lus)) waswas namednamed forfor thethe AztecAztec featheredfeathered serpentserpent godgod Quetzalcoatl.Quetzalcoatl.

AlamosaurusAlamosaurus ((al-uh-mo-sore-usal-uh-mo-sore-us)) waswas notnot namednamed forfor thethe famousfamous TexasTexas landmark,landmark, butbut forfor thethe rockrock formationformation inin whichwhich You:You: ______feetfeet talltall thethe bonesbones werewere firstfirst foundfound (Ojo(Ojo AlamoAlamo formation,formation, NewNew Mexico).Mexico).

318495_Book3.indd 19 4/16/10 2:11 PM CenozoicCenozoic Round-UpRound-Up (#15)(#15) WithWith thethe extinctionextinction ofof dinosaursdinosaurs andand giantgiant reptilesreptiles 6565 millionmillion yearsyears ago,ago, mammalsmammals werewere ableable toto diversifydiversify andand growgrow inin numbers.numbers. EvidenceEvidence ofof thesethese recentrecent wildwild creaturescreatures isis wellwell representedrepresented inin thethe fossilfossil record.record. SomeSome looklook likelike animalsanimals alivealive today.today. GuessGuess thethe modernmodern relativesrelatives ofof eacheach animalanimal andand writewrite themthem onon thethe cards.cards. ThenThen answeranswer thethe questionsquestions below.below.

IfIf youyou couldcould choosechoose oneone ofof thethe animalsanimals aboveabove toto bebe aa pet,pet, whichwhich wouldwould youyou choose?choose? Why?Why?

PaleontologistsPaleontologists namename plantsplants andand animalsanimals basedbased onon characteristicscharacteristics suchsuch as:as: whatwhat theythey looklook like,like, whatwhat theythey eat,eat, andand wherewhere theythey werewere found.found. WhatWhat wouldwould youyou namename youryour newnew pet?pet?

WhatWhat couldcould youyou buybuy atat thethe grocerygrocery storestore toto feedfeed youryour newnew pet?pet?

318495_Book3.indd 20 4/16/10 2:12 PM EyeEye ofof thethe BeholderBeholder (#16)(#16)

PaleontologistsPaleontologists findfind andand studystudy fossils,fossils, butbut theythey oftenoften relyrely onon artistsartists toto bringbring ancientancient creaturescreatures toto life. life. ByBy studyingstudying fossilsfossils andand comparingcomparing themthem toto livingliving plantsplants oror animalsanimals artistsartists cancan createcreate aa picturepicture ofof whatwhat thethe organismorganism mightmight havehave lookedlooked likelike whenwhen itit waswas alive.alive. ExamplesExamples ofof anan artist’sartist’s reconstructionsreconstructions ofof 5252 millionmillion yearyear oldold fishfish fromfrom FossilFossil ButteButte NationalNational Monument,Monument, WyomingWyoming areare shownshown below.below. MatchMatch thethe 22 illustrationsillustrations toto thethe fossilsfossils (blue(blue box)box) theythey werewere basedbased on.on.

DiplomystusDiplomystus dentatus dentatus KnightiaKnightia alta alta

ItIt is is unusual unusual for for soft-bodiedsoft-bodied animals animals to to bebe well well preserved. preserved. Fish Fish with with toughtough bones bones and and scales scales have have aa better better chance. chance. Quick Quick burial burial inin calm calm lake lake waters waters preserved preserved PhareodusPhareodus encaustus encaustus KnightiaKnightia eocaena eocaena amazingamazing complete complete fish fish skeletons.skeletons.

NowNow itit isis youryour turn!turn! DrawDraw whatwhat youyou thinkthink thethe CenozoicCenozoic fishfish belowbelow wouldwould havehave lookedlooked likelike duringduring itsits life.life. ImagineImagine whatwhat colorscolors oror patternspatterns itsits scalesscales mightmight havehave had.had.

CrossopholisCrossopholis magnicaudatus magnicaudatus

318495_Book3.indd 21 4/16/10 2:12 PM FossilFossil NationNation WhatWhat kindkind ofof fossilsfossils mightmight youyou findfind wherewhere youyou live? live? HereHere is is aa mapmap ofof parksparks thatthat preservepreserve fossilsfossils acrossacross thethe UnitedUnited States.States. HowHow manymany areare inin youryour homehome state?state? YouYou cancan findfind outout moremore aboutabout parksparks nearnear youyou atat http://www.nps.gov.http://www.nps.gov.

TheThe mapmap aboveabove showsshows moremore thanthan 220220 parksparks thatthat preservepreserve fossils,fossils, butbut oneone isis missing!missing! InIn 19221922 FossilFossil CycadCycad NationalNational MonumentMonument waswas establishedestablished inin SouthSouth Dakota.Dakota. ThisThis monumentmonument preservedpreserved oneone ofof thethe largestlargest depositsdeposits ofof CretaceousCretaceous cycadcycad fossilsfossils (palm-(palm- likelike tree),tree), manymany nearlynearly perfectlyperfectly preserved.preserved. TheThe fossilsfossils werewere soso spectacular,spectacular, inin fact,fact, thatthat researchersresearchers collectedcollected nearlynearly allall ofof thethe fossilsfossils fromfrom thethe monument.monument. RemovalRemoval ofof fossilfossil materialmaterial waswas soso greatgreat thatthat thethe sitesite waswas withdrawnwithdrawn asas aa nationalnational parkpark unitunit inin 1956.1956.

TheThe NationalNational ParkPark ServiceService isis muchmuch moremore carefulcareful withwith fossilfossil resourcesresources today.today. WithWith thethe helphelp ofof JuniorJunior PaleontologistsPaleontologists likelike youyou wewe cancan protectprotect thethe remainingremaining fossilsfossils fromfrom disappearing.disappearing.

318495_Book3.indd 22 4/16/10 2:12 PM StateState FossilsFossils FossilsFossils areare suchsuch aa popularpopular resourceresource thatthat manymany statesstates havehave chosenchosen aa “State“State Fossil”Fossil” oror “State“State Dinosaur”.Dinosaur”. Typically,Typically, thethe StateState FossilFossil representsrepresents aa fossilfossil whichwhich isis wellwell knownknown oror commoncommon inin thatthat state.state.

CheckCheck atat youryour librarylibrary oror onon thethe internetinternet toto findfind youryour state’sstate’s specialspecial fossil.fossil. If If youryour statestate hasn’thasn’t chosenchosen one,one, choosechoose aa fossilfossil toto representrepresent youryour state.state. YouYou cancan eveneven writewrite aa letterletter toto youryour statestate legislaturelegislature andand encourageencourage themthem toto adoptadopt youryour fossilfossil choicechoice asas thethe statestate fossil!fossil!

State:State:

Fossil:Fossil:

WhereWhere waswas itit found?:found?:

HowHow doesdoes itit representrepresent youryour state?state?

DrawDraw youryour statestate fossilfossil below!below!

318495_Book3.indd 23 4/16/10 2:12 PM National Park Service U.S. Department of Interior

Content Krista L. Jankowski Layout and Design Krista L. Jankowski Caroline Marshall Hill Illustration Elizabeth Fodde-Reguer Jose Garcia Thea Price-Eckles

Errolyn Weston Daley Jessie Katz Simone?! Satchell

Jennifer McDonald Jonathan Steadman

Hermes Arriola Andrew Hartsock Ethan Wood

Photographs and Images Krista L. Jankowski - Grinnell Glacier background photo, pg 11 Catherine Riihimaki - Stromatolites, Glacier National Park, pg 11 Ron Blakey - US map, pg 13 TheColoringSpot.com - Precambrian life, pg 10 Additional images courtesy of the National Park Service.

Additional Support Vincent Santucci Marcia Fagnant Jeff Wolin Annette Rousseau Jim F. Wood Arvid Aase Matt Greuel Erica Clites Jason Kenworthy Victoria Stauffenberg Christie Young Melanie Ransmeier Bruce Nash Allyson Mathis Elena Evans Jeff Selleck Laine Weber Find out more at http://www.nature.nps.gov/geology/paleontology/ © National Park Service 2009