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Microfossils are microscopic
single-celled organisms that belong to the Kingdom Protista
(or Protoctista). Examples include calcareous nannofossils,
foraminifera, diatoms, radiolarians, and silicoflagellates;
planktonic organisms that inhabit the sunlit surface waters
of the world ocean. The tiny shells of microfossils
are the sediments that cover vast areas of the seafloor.
This poster shows several different images of microfossils, taken
through microscopes. The microfossils were found in cores recovered
by the scientific ocean drilling vessel, JOIDES
Resolution. When
a core is brought up on deck, scientists look at these slides
to identify the microfossils found in cores and determine the
age of the sediment, as well as something about Earth’s
past climate.
The activities on the back of the Microfossils poster
simulate the identification and use of these microfossils to
examine past climate change and Earth history.
National Science Education
Standards
Suitable for Grades K-4, 5-8, 9-12, and undergraduate
Primary Standard - Standard C: Life Science
Secondary Standard - Standard D: Earth and Space Science
A copy of the Microfossils: the ocean's storytellers poster
is available free of charge by e-mailing deepearthacademy@oceanleadership.org.
Download the Microfossils:
the ocean's storytellers poster
 (PDF:
3.8MB)
Download classroom
activities on the back of this poster.
(PDF:
1.1MB)
Activities on the back of this poster:
Small Creatures, Big Science
 View
in Flash Download/Print
PDF (272 KB)
Small Creatures, Big Science guides you throught the images on the
front of the poster and introduces a memory game that can be created
with the images.
Secrets of the Sediments
(Teacher's guide also available)
Nannofossils Reveal Seafloor Spreading Truth!
Poster Credits:
Design - Dylan Sullivan, Matt Niemitz
Writing - Leslie Peart, Nancy Felix, Dylan Sullivan, Ramona Smith,
Jerry Cook, Virginia Jones, Dr. Mark Leckie, and Dr. Kristen St.
John
Photography - Participants of the School of Rock Expedition 2005,
Dr. Mark Leckie
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