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A Fossil Thermometer
https://smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/climate_change/smithsonian_siyc_fall2009.pdf

Smithsonian Institution, Smithsonian Institute

In this activity, students calculate temperatures during a time in the geologic record when rapid warming occurred using a well known method called 'leaf-margin analysis.' Students determine the percentage of the species that have leaves with smooth edges, as opposed to toothed, or jagged, edges. Facsimiles of fossil leaves from two collection sites are examined, categorized, and the data is plugged into an equation to provide an estimate of paleotemperature for two sites in the Bighorn Basin. It also introduces students to a Smithsonian scientist who worked on the excavation sites and did the analysis.

Activity takes about two class periods. If online interactive is used, computer access is required.

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Grade Level

Topics

Climate Literacy

This Activity builds on the following concepts of Climate Literacy.

Click a topic below for supporting information, teaching ideas, and sample activities.

Excellence in Environmental Education Guidelines

1. Questioning, Analysis and Interpretation Skills:C) Collecting information
Other materials addressing:
C) Collecting information.
2. Knowledge of Environmental Processes and Systems:2.2 The Living Environment:A) Organisms, populations, and communities
Other materials addressing:
A) Organisms, populations, and communities.
2. Knowledge of Environmental Processes and Systems:2.2 The Living Environment:B) Heredity and evolution
Other materials addressing:
B) Heredity and evolution.
2. Knowledge of Environmental Processes and Systems:2.2 The Living Environment:C) Systems and connections
Other materials addressing:
C) Systems and connections.

Notes From Our Reviewers The CLEAN collection is hand-picked and rigorously reviewed for scientific accuracy and classroom effectiveness. Read what our review team had to say about this resource below or learn more about how CLEAN reviews teaching materials
Teaching Tips | Science | Pedagogy | Technical Details

Teaching Tips

About the Content

  • Students are required to examine leaf edges using either large poster images or an online interactive tool and do some simple arithmetic to understand the differences in the leaves from different sites.
  • This activity gives an example of how scientists themselves conduct their inquiry.
  • Large amount of background information appropriate for educators and students is available.
  • References to the original data, as well as that for the correlations between mean temperature and leaf morphology, are not included.
  • An article addressing the underlying science of leaf margin analysis can be found here: Wilf, Peter. (1997). When are leaves good thermometers? A new case for Leaf Margin Analysis. Paleobiology, 23(3), 373-390 .
  • Ideally the change seen during the early Cenozoic should be related with any effects that it had on biota.
  • The explanation of the term “isotopes” is provided, educators need to clarify this in class.
  • Comment from scientist: When used immediately following “Cenozoic,” the term “era” should possess an uppercase “E” (i.e., Cenozoic Era).

About the Pedagogy

  • Activity uses text, images, illustrations, video and interactive forms to tell a vivid story.
  • Activity does not include an assessment.

Technical Details/Ease of Use

  • A well-documented activity with an effective online interactive tool for categorizing the leaves and using these findings to estimate the likely mean temperature when they were alive.
  • Easy for a educator to implement in a lesson.
Entered the Collection: February 2012 Last Reviewed: July 2016

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