Fossilization: Dinosaurs & Digs

*Please note, early ClassVR headset models (155) may take longer to load this scene and performance could be affected.* Go back in time and take your students on an epic adventure to the Mesozoic era when dinosaurs ruled the Earth! In this immersive VR experience, students will start their journey of discovery in the Cretaceous period, where they will walk among towering dinosaurs and swim alongside majestic prehistoric creatures in ancient waters. Journeying through time, they’ll witness the fascinating process of fossilization firsthand, a process that takes millions of years. Fast forward to the present, and they’ll find themselves at a paleontological dig site, uncovering the secrets these prehistoric giants left behind. From the age of dinosaurs to modern-day discoveries, it will be a wild ride! **Notes to Teachers:** This experience has been created to give students an overview of the process of fossilization. Inspired by the Mesozoic era: the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods, students will fast-track through the fossilization process, observing how prehistoric organisms break down and are buried to their discovery in a paleontological dig site. This experience draws from primary and secondary sources and research to create a rounded learning experience for a global audience. # Learning Objectives 1: Experience walking with dinosaurs and use visual evidence to gain an insight into how dinosaurs were buried when they died.{.info} 2: Explore the process of fossilization and observe the mineralization of dinosaur skeletons.{.info} 3: Develop an understanding of how fossil evidence provides information about the Mesozoic era.{.info} # Preparing for the Experience Before entering the Fossilization experience, engage your students by asking what they already know about dinosaurs and fossils. Begin by explaining that dinosaurs were a diverse group of animals that roamed the Earth millions of years ago but are now extinct. Introduce the Mesozoic Era, which was around 250 to 66 million years ago, and explain to students that this era was when dinosaurs dominated the terrestrial land. During this time, dinosaurs evolved into many different species and adapted to various habitats, shaping the prehistoric world as we know it. The experience should inspire students to ask how we know dinosaurs existed. **Preparation Questions** Encourage your students to think about the following questions to help guide them through the experience: 1. What are dinosaurs?{.task} 2. What are fossils?{.task} 3. How do we know these creatures existed so long ago?{.task} # Step-by-Step Experience Guide Teachers can use this step-by-step guide to lead students through the experience once they are in the headset. Alternatively, students can use the guide below independently or in a group. # An Encounter on Land{.objective .objective1}  You are a time traveler, and you have arrived during the Mesozoic era, when prehistoric animals and plants dominated the landscape around 250 million to 60 million years ago. Your journey begins in the Cretaceous period of the Mesozoic era, where you’re greeted by one of the giants of the land—an Argentinosaurus, calmly feeding on the towering trees that once formed the lush habitats for these prehistoric giants. This massive herbivore thrived on tough plant material and roamed the Earth around 90 million years ago. While it’s believed to be the largest land dinosaur, fossil discoveries in Argentina suggest it had some big rivals for that title, like the Patagotitan and Pareiasaurus. So, with only partial fossils to go by, the true heavyweight champion of the dinosaur world remains a mystery. As you walk along the beach, you’ll come across a Triceratops stuck in a tar pit. Known for its massive head, three impressive horns and parrot-like beak, this herbivore was another giant of the Cretaceous period. In contrast to the towering Argentinosaurus, the Triceratops emerged much later, appearing around 66 to 68 million years ago. Before diving into the water, you will come across the remains of two dinosaurs—one massive Argentinosaurus and the other, the infamous Tyrannosaurus rex, a fearsome predator that also lived during the Cretaceous period. Unlike the plant-eating Argentinosaurus and Triceratops, the T. rex was a two-legged, ferocious carnivore. With a bone-crushing jaw and 60 razor-sharp teeth, T. rex teeth marks have even been found on Triceratops fossils, proving that T.rexs also preyed on Triceratops. While exploring, look out for the footprints on the beach. Where do they lead? Time to follow the footsteps. ### Quick Fire Questions - What do you think happened to the remains of the T. rex and Argentinosaurus?{.task} # Exploring the Deep Ocean{.objective .objective2}  Are you ready to explore the deep blue ocean? Keep following the footsteps on the beach as they lead you toward the prehistoric ocean. As you dive in, you will meet a true giant of the sea—the Mosasaurus! This fearsome carnivore swam the oceans during the Cretaceous period, around 62 million years ago and with its menacing look, it was well adapted to life underwater. Ammonites were another common sight in the ocean. These ancient, shelled sea creatures belong to the mollusk family, like squid. They used their soft bodies and tentacles to snatch food and glide through the water. Ammonites first appeared around 200 million years ago during the Jurassic period and went extinct about 66 million years ago in the Cretaceous period. Today, their spiral shells are some of the most common fossils you'll find along coastlines. Take the time to explore the area, and you’ll notice that ammonites, a T. rex, and fallen trees are slowly being buried. The soft tissues of these organisms have decomposed, leaving behind only the harder, more resistant parts: for dinosaurs like the T. rex, it's the skeleton; for ammonites, their shells; and for trees, their bark-rich trunks. Over time, these remains would become completely buried, gradually sinking deeper underground. For fossilization to occur, the remains of these dead dinosaurs, ammonites, and trees needed to be buried under substantial layers. This often took place on the ocean floor or under thick layers of volcanic ash accumulating from volcanic activity. ### Quick Fire Questions - How is the Mosasaurus adapted to the oceans?{.task} - Why would the skeleton, shell or trunk of a living thing be hard to decompose?{.task} # Burying the Evidence{.objective .objective3}  It’s time to pick up the trail and follow the ammonite shells leading toward the underwater tunnel that will take you on the next part of your journey. Entering the tunnel, you will now move forwards in time to see the next stage of fossilization. As you rise out from the ocean you will find the skeleton of a T. rex! Once lost beneath the ocean, this T. rex was buried by layers of ocean sediment, along with other prehistoric neighbors like ammonites and trees. As more sediment piled up, it pressed down, squeezing out water and oxygen and slowly compacting everything into rock—the perfect setup for fossilization. The buried skeleton is surrounded by the mineral rich water that percolates through the rock. The water carries dissolved calcium carbonate, silica and iron. These minerals gradually replace the skeleton remains to form hard mineral casts of the skeleton, preserving the original structure and shape of the remains. Turning the corner, you'll see another T. rex skeleton! This one lies even deeper underground, meaning it's been going through the fossilization process longer. Minerals are still actively replacing the skeleton remains, but looking closely, you'll see that the skeleton's color has changed. Once white, it's now mostly replaced by rich minerals, showing it is further along its fossil transformation. Approaching the end of the tunnel, you’ll notice the final T. rex. Here, the fossilization process is complete. After millions of years, the remains are deeply buried and compacted. As layers of sediment built up, water and oxygen were gradually squeezed out, allowing minerals to infiltrate the remains. This process, called mineralization, preserves the details of fossilized remains. ### Quick Fire Questions - What happens to dead dinosaurs and plants when they settle on the seabed?{.task} - What term describes the reaction between minerals and the skeleton of dinosaurs?{.task} # Uncovering the Evidence{.objective .objective4}  Emerging from the tunnel and into the light, you have reached the present day. In the paleontological dig below, the fossilized remains of various dinosaurs and plants are being unearthed. Walk down the footbridge toward the dig site, where the paleontologist is carefully working around what looks like a fossilized skeleton. Looking back, you can see that the dig site is much lower down than the tunnel you came from. Why do you think this is? Paleontological digs have uncovered a treasure trove of evidence about the past. Fossils only form when they’re buried for millions of years in the right conditions. As sediment builds up in layers over time, each new layer marks a slightly different period. The deeper you dig, the older the fossils that you’ll find. The book near the tent shows how these sediment layers reveal a timeline of fossils, from the most recent near the top to the oldest at the bottom. Now, look around the rest of the dig site! Here, at the lowest point of the dig, paleontologists are uncovering the site’s oldest fossil: the remains of a Liliensternus. This small carnivore roamed in the early Mesozoic Era, during the Triassic Period, around 205 to 202 million years ago. Its position, much deeper than that of a T. rex or Argentinosaurus, indicates that it comes from a significantly older period. ### Quick Fire Questions - What do the layers tell us about the age of fossils?{.task} # More Evidence{.objective .objective5}  When you’re ready, head up the path and follow the footsteps leading toward the cliff-side. Here, you can see that the paleontologists have been very busy excavating the cliff face, which was once underwater. Look closely. What do you notice about the scaffolding? Each scaffold layer represents a different period during the Mesozoic era. Climb the first ladder and make your way up to the first platform of the scaffold. From the first platform, you’ll notice that you’re positioned higher than where the paleontologist is digging. Fossils excavated at this level were buried above the Liliensternus fossil found deeper down, indicating the fossils you see here are more recent. On the cliff face, there are two exposed fossils. The larger one, a Dilophosaurus, was a carnivore that lived around 184 million years ago, during the Jurassic period: the middle period of the Mesozoic era. The smaller fossil is the remains of an archaeopteryx that lived during the Jurassic period around 163 million years ago. The archaeopteryx was a small bird-like dinosaur and is believed to be the oldest known bird fossil. Paleontologists believe it was covered in feathers, as its fossil remains show clear impressions of feathers around the skeleton. The lime-rich mud these dinosaurs were buried in was perfect for preserving the feathered prints. ### Quick Fire Questions 1. How did paleontologists know if dinosaurs were covered in feathers?{.task} 2. What does the position of fossils tell you about when they lived?{.task} # Past meets Present{.objective .objective6}  Ready to climb higher? As you ascend, the second tier reveals fossils from the more recent Cretaceous period of the Mesozoic era. Do you recognize any of them? You already met these dinosaurs at the start of your journey. These are the remains of the triceratops and the Mosasaurus that were still alive when your journey started in the Mesozoic era. Putting the evidence together, what might this mean about the other fossils you’ve seen? This means when these dinosaurs were alive, the remains from the Jurassic and Triassic era were already buried deep underground and fossilizing. ### Quick Fire Questions 1. Can you name the dinosaur fossils in this section of the dig?{.task} 2. Do you remember when they lived?{.task} # More Evidence{.objective .objective7}  We are almost finished! Head back down the ladder toward the dig site and learn more about how scientists and paleontologists study fossilized remains. The distinctive layers created over time by deposits under the sea, show us when dinosaurs were buried. Knowing this helps to create a timeline of when dinosaurs existed. Tests such as carbon dating allow scientists to determine how old the fossils are. Samples taken from these layers help scientists to identify which of the three periods of the Mesozoic era these dinosaurs lived in. **The Mesozoic Era** - The Triassic period: 252 million to 201 million years ago - The Jurassic period: 201 million to 145 million years ago - The Cretaceous period: 145 million to 66 million years ago So far, we have mainly explored the fossilized skeletons of dinosaurs. What other evidence is there of living things from the past? Explore the remaining surrounding area and see if you can identify other examples of fossilized specimens. This should include: - Footprints - Petrified tree trunks - Ammonites For example, ammonites are everywhere from the lowest part of the dig to the highest part. What does that tell you about when they existed? ### Quick Fire Questions 1. What fossils other than skeletons did paleontologists discover?{.task} 2. Have all of the dinosaurs you’ve seen been fossilized?{.task} # Telling the Story{.objective .objective8}  The discovery of fossils is a huge turning point in understanding the history of our earth. Paleontologists have been able to piece together evidence and create a timeline of the Mesozoic era, when the dinosaurs in this journey existed. This evidence has also revealed information about plants, helping us understand diets, habitats and interactions within the ecosystem. However, there are still significant gaps in the evidence. This is largely due to the decomposition of soft-bodied plants and animals before they could be preserved. Some of our gaps in evidence could have also been caused by geological activities such as tectonic plate movement, volcanic eruptions, and earthquakes which may have disrupted sedimentary rocks, damaging, or even destroying some fossils. Exploring the top tent, you will see the various tools paleontologists use to excavate. Typically, fossils are unearthed along coastlines or areas that would have been underwater at some point and sometimes in areas that were buried under volcanic ash from eruptions. When paleontologists have exposed fossilized remains, great care is taken to remove rocks, soil, and other material around the fossil so it is not damaged. In many cases, most of the fossilized skeleton can be recovered. Take a look around. Can you spot any rebuilt skeletons? The large dinosaur next to the tent is the fossilized remains of the Argentinosaurus we met at the beginning of our journey. What about the other skeleton? ### Quick Fire Questions 1. Why are most fossils found near the coast?{.task} 2. Can you name which dinosaurs are modeled by the skeletons in this area?{.task} # Cross-Curricular Links **Geography** Ask students to research and create a profile of how fossils serve as evidence for the evolution of dinosaurs. The profile should include annotated diagrams to show a timeline of dinosaurs from the Mesozoic Era. **English Language** Tell your students that they have been recruited by a museum to create an information leaflet for an excursion through a prehistoric dig site. Students should use descriptive language to highlight the characteristics of multiple dinosaur fossils. # Teacher Resources ### Download the Teacher Notes Below [](https://avnfs.com/HOYKBWQxNbC2Dy_FAqPh3drUgfSUgBMPZXpKwrh3qkM?size=5954991&type=application%2Fpdf&name=How+Fossils+are+Made+REBUILD+Teacher+Notes+-+Teacher+Version.pdf) ### Download the Student Notes Below [](https://avnfs.com/WpXQ5luvRcJ7J1002KFE2iYr51IGsBpsP53fwzoWPtw?size=6075213&type=application%2Fpdf&name=Fossilization+Dinosaurs+%26+Digs++Student+Version.pdf)