Fossils and the Rock Record Phenomena-Based Lesson: Exceptional Soft-Tissue Preservation in the 508-Million-Year-Old Burgess Shale Presentation | Earth & Space Science | Grades 9–12

This is the student-facing slide presentation that introduces the phenomenon, walks the class through observations and driving questions, and frames the evidence students will use for the Phenomena-Based Lesson in the high school Earth & Space Science (grades 9–12) chapter Fossils and the Rock Record, built around the phenomenon Exceptional Soft-Tissue Preservation in the 508-Million-Year-Old Burgess Shale. It is sold separately from the other two parts of the set.

Complete the set: Fossils and the Rock Record Phenomena-Based Lesson: Exceptional Soft-Tissue Preservation in the 508-Million-Year-Old Burgess Shale Teacher Discussion Guide; Fossils and the Rock Record Phenomena-Based Lesson: Exceptional Soft-Tissue Preservation in the 508-Million-Year-Old Burgess Shale Student Response Sheet. Scaffolded version: Fossils and the Rock Record Scaffolded Phenomena-Based Lesson: Exceptional Soft-Tissue Preservation in the 508-Million-Year-Old Burgess Shale Presentation.

Sections: NGSS Dimension; Specific Performance Expectation & Dimensional Alignment; Slides; Segment; Focus Activity & Instructional Goal; Anchoring Driving Question (student Sensemaking):; Talk Move Category; Teacher Facilitation Prompt & Sensemaking Strategy. Sample item: “What unique taphonomic conditions in an ancient equatorial mud basin halted bacterial decomposition and preserved the delicate soft bodies of the Cambrian Explosion?”

What's inside: Student Slide Show (editable .pptx + PDF, 22 slides).

Standards: HS-ESS1-5 — Evaluate evidence of the past and current movements of continental and oceanic crust and the theory of plate tectonics to explain the ages of crustal rocks. HS-ESS2-7 — Construct an argument based on evidence about the simultaneous coevolution of Earth’s systems and life on Earth.

Resource type: Phenomena-Based Lesson – Presentation. Format: editable Microsoft PowerPoint file plus a ready-to-print PDF.

Classroom use: Open with the phenomenon slide show, let students record ideas on the response sheet, and lead the discussion with the teacher guide. Built for high school Earth & Space Science, grades 9–12.

Format note: These files are delivered in Microsoft Office formats (Word and/or PowerPoint). If you open a worksheet that includes tables in Apple Pages or another non-Microsoft app, table formatting may not display correctly. For best results, use Microsoft Word or PowerPoint (or upload the file to Google Docs). If you run into any formatting issues, contact us and we can send a PDF version.