Connecting Fossil Clubs With K–12 Teachers

Graphical Abstract

FOSSILs4Teachers! is a professional development workshop that allows K-12 educators and museum paleontologists to collaborate on fossil resources and standards-aligned lesson plans about fossils.

Abstract

Since 2013 the National Science Foundation (NSF)–funded FOSSIL project has developed a national network of paleontology clubs, whose membership includes amateur and professional paleontologists, and natural history museums (MacFadden et al. 2016). More than 5,000 fossil club members and other enthusiasts have connected to the FOSSIL learning community via its website, www.myfossil.org, and social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Keywords:

• Informal Education

Supplemental Material

Acknowledgments

Many individuals contributed to the success of FOSSILs4Teachers! We thank all of the participants for their engagement. We are also grateful for all of the fossil contributions, including the matrix, made by participants and outside sources. We thank J. Gage, museum photographer, for photographs taken during the week; B. Dunckel, for the tour at the FLMNH’s new Discovery Zone; R. Portell for his behind-the-scenes tour; S. Moran for his tour of the vertebrate paleontology collections and his time-lapse video of the fossil inventory “blitz” prior to the PD; and M. Barboza, for her social media coverage. This PD was supported by National Science Foundation Advancing Informal STEM Learning grant #1322725 (DRL).

Author Contributions

Jeanette Pirlo ([email protected]) is a PhD student at the Florida Museum of Natural History and in the Department of Biology at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida.

Bruce J. MacFadden ([email protected]) is distinguished professor and curator of vertebrate paleontology at the Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, in Gainesville, Florida.

Eleanor E. Gardner ([email protected]) is the outreach and engagement coordinator at the University of Kansas Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum in Lawrence, Kansas.

Victor J. Perez ([email protected]) is a PhD student at the Florida Museum of Natural History and in the Department of Geological Sciences at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida.

Denise Porcello ([email protected]) is a second-grade elementary teacher at Brookside Elementary School in Dracut, Massachusetts.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jeanette Pirlo

Jeanette Pirlo ([email protected]) is a PhD student at the Florida Museum of Natural History and in the Department of Biology at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida.

Bruce J. MacFadden

Bruce J. MacFadden ([email protected]) is distinguished professor and curator of vertebrate paleontology at the Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, in Gainesville, Florida.

Eleanor E. Gardner

Eleanor E. Gardner ([email protected]) is the outreach and engagement coordinator at the University of Kansas Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum in Lawrence, Kansas.

Victor J. Perez

Victor J. Perez ([email protected]) is a PhD student at the Florida Museum of Natural History and in the Department of Geological Sciences at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida.

Denise Porcello

Denise Porcello ([email protected]) is a second-grade elementary teacher at Brookside Elementary School in Dracut, Massachusetts.