Fossils in the Classroom

The Fossils in the Classroom project was developed to connect the work of CU Faculty researchers with teachers and students in communities throughout Colorado that need resources and expertise on fossils for the classroom. Investigations in the kits have students observing, using measuring tools, predicting, recording, describing, and comparing observations and results from their work to that of the work of other students and to the work of paleontologists and biologists. Topics in the kits include fossilization, geologic time, paleo-environments, climate change, marine environments, and fossil track ways.

The Fossils in the Classroom Project is developed for Colorado School Districts by:

Jaelyn Eberle, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Geological Sciences, and Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology, University of Colorado Museum of Natural History, Boulder, CO

Dena Smith, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Geological Sciences, and Curator of Invertebrate Paleontology, University of Colorado Museum of Natural History, Boulder, CO

Toni Culver 
Vertebrate Paleontology Collection Manager, University of Colorado Museum of Natural History, Boulder, CO

Talia Karim, Ph.D.
Invertebrate Paleontology Collection Manager, University of Colorado Museum of Natural History, Boulder, CO

Jim Hakala
Senior Educator, University of Colorado Museum of Natural History, Boulder, CO

Cathy Regan, Ph.D.
Education Coordinator, University of Colorado Museum of Natural History, Boulder, CO

Erin Leckey
Doctoral Candidate, Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO

Dani Griffitts
Curatorial Assistant, University of Colorado Museum of Natural History, Boulder, CO

With assistance from graduate students in the Museum and Field Studies program of the University of Colorado: Debbie Wagner, Taormina Lepore, Karen Malone, Robert Rutherford, Kathy Hollis, Jessica Holm, Samantha Sands and Nicole Ridgewell; And undergraduate students at the University of Colorado, Boulder: Greg Walth, Ben Barishman, KZ Mendoza, Megan Collins and Samantha Eaton.

To find out how to get a fossil kit, curriculum, or paleo poster for your classroom or school, arrange an in-district teacher training, and/or a presentation for your classroom, please contact Jim Hakala, Senior Educator, University of Colorado Museum of Natural History at 303-492-4458, or james.hakala@colorado.edu.

Visit the University of Colorado Museum of Natural History's Paleontology Section.

The Fossils in the Classroom project is generously funded by the CU-Boulder Office of Outreach and Engagement and the CU-Boulder Museum of Natural History.