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TSTA Annual Conference Nashville November 17, 2006

Looking Back in Time: The Mastodon Matrix Project Kristin T. Rearden, Chris A. Underwood, Daniel B. Lewis and Sally P. Horn. TSTA Annual Conference Nashville November 17, 2006.

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TSTA Annual Conference Nashville November 17, 2006

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  1. Looking Back in Time: The Mastodon Matrix ProjectKristin T. Rearden, Chris A. Underwood, Daniel B. Lewis and Sally P. Horn TSTA Annual Conference Nashville November 17, 2006 Materials produced by the University of Tennessee GK-12 Earth Project, funded by the National Science Foundation GK-12 Program under grant # DGE-0538420.

  2. The University of Tennessee GK–12 Earth Project: Enriching Earth Science in Rural Tennessee Middle Schools through Research-Based Activities on Climate and Environmental History We are funded by the National Science Foundation and are one of many GK–12 University programs in the nation GK–12 Program Materials produced by the University of Tennessee GK-12 Earth Project, funded by the National Science Foundation GK-12 Program under grant # DGE-0538420.

  3. The Mastodon Matrix Projecthttp://priweb.org/mastodon/HP_mast/HP_mast_main.html Image used with permission from the Paleontological Research Institution. Materials produced by the University of Tennessee GK-12 Earth Project, funded by the National Science Foundation GK-12 Program under grant # DGE-0538420.

  4. The PRI Materials produced by the University of Tennessee GK-12 Earth Project, funded by the National Science Foundation GK-12 Program under grant # DGE-0538420.

  5. The PRI • Founded by Gilbert Dennison Harris (Cornell geologist) in 1932 • Moved to into the West Hill Children’s Home building in 1968 • Currently holds over 2 million fossils and shells, and a 50,000 volume research library • Opened the 18,000 ft2 Museum of the Earth in 2003 Materials produced by the University of Tennessee GK-12 Earth Project, funded by the National Science Foundation GK-12 Program under grant # DGE-0538420.

  6. The Museum of the Earth(at the Paleontological Research Institution) Materials produced by the University of Tennessee GK-12 Earth Project, funded by the National Science Foundation GK-12 Program under grant # DGE-0538420.

  7. Museum Prep Room Materials produced by the University of Tennessee GK-12 Earth Project, funded by the National Science Foundation GK-12 Program under grant # DGE-0538420.

  8. Geologic Time Exhibits • Big Bang to Cambrian • Cambrian to Silurian • The Devonian • Carboniferous to Triassic • The Triassic/Jurassic • Jurassic to Quaternary • The Quaternary Materials produced by the University of Tennessee GK-12 Earth Project, funded by the National Science Foundation GK-12 Program under grant # DGE-0538420.

  9. Ancient Sea Fossils Materials produced by the University of Tennessee GK-12 Earth Project, funded by the National Science Foundation GK-12 Program under grant # DGE-0538420.

  10. Dunkleosteus !! Materials produced by the University of Tennessee GK-12 Earth Project, funded by the National Science Foundation GK-12 Program under grant # DGE-0538420.

  11. Dunkleosteus • Giant, armored predatory fish of the Devonian (360 mya or millions of years ago) • We know what the skull looked like, but can only guess about the rest of its body Materials produced by the University of Tennessee GK-12 Earth Project, funded by the National Science Foundation GK-12 Program under grant # DGE-0538420.

  12. Titanotheres • Rhinoceros-like animal that lived during the Tertiary (50 – 25 mya) • Preparation of this skull took 500 hrs Materials produced by the University of Tennessee GK-12 Earth Project, funded by the National Science Foundation GK-12 Program under grant # DGE-0538420.

  13. Cornell Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Snee Hall Collections • Gilbert Mastodon • American mastodon (Mammut americanum) • Lived ~ 2 million – 8,000 yrs ago • 8 – 10 feet tall • 4 – 5 tons Materials produced by the University of Tennessee GK-12 Earth Project, funded by the National Science Foundation GK-12 Program under grant # DGE-0538420.

  14. Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Snee Hall CollectionsThe Gilbert Mastodon femur andtibia tusk vertebrae mandible Materials produced by the University of Tennessee GK-12 Earth Project, funded by the National Science Foundation GK-12 Program under grant # DGE-0538420.

  15. Gilbert Mastodon at the Museum of the Earth*mammoth bones were found alongside! mastodon vs. mammoth tooth femur Materials produced by the University of Tennessee GK-12 Earth Project, funded by the National Science Foundation GK-12 Program under grant # DGE-0538420.

  16. Hyde Park Mastodon Materials produced by the University of Tennessee GK-12 Earth Project, funded by the National Science Foundation GK-12 Program under grant # DGE-0538420.

  17. Hyde Park Mastodon Materials produced by the University of Tennessee GK-12 Earth Project, funded by the National Science Foundation GK-12 Program under grant # DGE-0538420.

  18. Hyde Park Mastodon • Found in Hyde Park, NY • Hudson Valley Region Map produced by GK-12 Fellow Sarah Deane Materials produced by the University of Tennessee GK-12 Earth Project, funded by the National Science Foundation GK-12 Program under grant # DGE-0538420.

  19. Hyde Park Mastodon • First discovered in 1999 by Larry Lozier during the deepening of his glacially-formed pond • He originally thought the humerus he found was that of a horse • PRI staff and hundreds of volunteers helped unearth the entire skeleton • Excavation lasted six weeks Materials produced by the University of Tennessee GK-12 Earth Project, funded by the National Science Foundation GK-12 Program under grant # DGE-0538420.

  20. The Hyde Park Excavation Image used with permission from the Paleontological Research Institution. Materials produced by the University of Tennessee GK-12 Earth Project, funded by the National Science Foundation GK-12 Program under grant # DGE-0538420.

  21. The Hyde Park Excavation Image used with permission from the Paleontological Research Institution. Materials produced by the University of Tennessee GK-12 Earth Project, funded by the National Science Foundation GK-12 Program under grant # DGE-0538420.

  22. Hyde Park Mastodon • The Hyde Park specimen was determined to be an American mastodon (Mammut americanum) • Probably an adult male 30 – 40 yrs old • May have weighed as much as 10,000 – 15,000 lbs (4,500 – 6,800 kg) • Lived around 11,500 BC Materials produced by the University of Tennessee GK-12 Earth Project, funded by the National Science Foundation GK-12 Program under grant # DGE-0538420.

  23. Hyde Park Mastodon • Other research focuses on: • sediment charcoal • ostracodes • plant macrofossils • taphonomy • beetles • stable isotopes of sediments and mastodon teeth • sedimentology/stratigraphy • mollusks • This is where we come in! Materials produced by the University of Tennessee GK-12 Earth Project, funded by the National Science Foundation GK-12 Program under grant # DGE-0538420.

  24. Hyde Park Mastodon • Remnants of at least ten species of trees are represented in the sediments that lined the bottom of the ~18,000 yr-old pond • Many of these species no longer live around Hyde Park, but can be found near Hudson Bay in north central Canada • Can we find more? Materials produced by the University of Tennessee GK-12 Earth Project, funded by the National Science Foundation GK-12 Program under grant # DGE-0538420.

  25. North Java Mastodon cranial fragments Materials produced by the University of Tennessee GK-12 Earth Project, funded by the National Science Foundation GK-12 Program under grant # DGE-0538420.

  26. North Java Mastodon • The PRI’s newest venture • Much smaller than the Hyde Park mastodon • Cranium was fragmented (very common occurrence, perhaps due to hunters attempting to make use of the entire kill) Materials produced by the University of Tennessee GK-12 Earth Project, funded by the National Science Foundation GK-12 Program under grant # DGE-0538420.

  27. North Java Mastodon • Found in North Java, NY • Niagara Frontier Region Map produced by GK-12 Fellow Sarah Deane Materials produced by the University of Tennessee GK-12 Earth Project, funded by the National Science Foundation GK-12 Program under grant # DGE-0538420.

  28. Behind-the-Scenes Tour Materials produced by the University of Tennessee GK-12 Earth Project, funded by the National Science Foundation GK-12 Program under grant # DGE-0538420.

  29. Mastodon Matrix Material Rob Ross discussing previously recovered materials from the Mastodon Matrix program Materials produced by the University of Tennessee GK-12 Earth Project, funded by the National Science Foundation GK-12 Program under grant # DGE-0538420.

  30. Know Your Mastodon Materials produced by the University of Tennessee GK-12 Earth Project, funded by the National Science Foundation GK-12 Program under grant # DGE-0538420.

  31. Reference Specimens African elephant (Loxodonta africana) skull for reference Materials produced by the University of Tennessee GK-12 Earth Project, funded by the National Science Foundation GK-12 Program under grant # DGE-0538420.

  32. Collections Materials produced by the University of Tennessee GK-12 Earth Project, funded by the National Science Foundation GK-12 Program under grant # DGE-0538420.

  33. Collections Materials produced by the University of Tennessee GK-12 Earth Project, funded by the National Science Foundation GK-12 Program under grant # DGE-0538420.

  34. Collections Materials produced by the University of Tennessee GK-12 Earth Project, funded by the National Science Foundation GK-12 Program under grant # DGE-0538420.

  35. Collections Materials produced by the University of Tennessee GK-12 Earth Project, funded by the National Science Foundation GK-12 Program under grant # DGE-0538420.

  36. Collections Materials produced by the University of Tennessee GK-12 Earth Project, funded by the National Science Foundation GK-12 Program under grant # DGE-0538420.

  37. Petrified Wood Materials produced by the University of Tennessee GK-12 Earth Project, funded by the National Science Foundation GK-12 Program under grant # DGE-0538420.

  38. Middle School Students as Researchers • Middle school students in East Tennessee are participating in the Mastodon Matrix Project as part of the GK-12 Program • Examination of the matrix provides a unique method for meeting state science standards Materials produced by the University of Tennessee GK-12 Earth Project, funded by the National Science Foundation GK-12 Program under grant # DGE-0538420.

  39. TN Curriculum Framework Connection Content Standard: 6.0 Biological Change The student will understand that living things have changed over time. Learning Expectations: • 6.2 Recognize various forms of evidence which indicate that life forms have changed over time • 6.3 Reason how environmental changes are associated with the extinction of a species Materials produced by the University of Tennessee GK-12 Earth Project, funded by the National Science Foundation GK-12 Program under grant # DGE-0538420.

  40. State Performance Indicators • As documented through state assessment, at Level 1, the student is able to: • 6.6.spi.1 analyze how fossils provide information about the past • 6.6.spi.2 identify factors that contribute to extinction. Materials produced by the University of Tennessee GK-12 Earth Project, funded by the National Science Foundation GK-12 Program under grant # DGE-0538420.

  41. Teacher Performance Indicators • As documented through teacher observation, at Level 2, the student is able to: • 6.6.tpi.2 compare and contrast the different processes of fossil formation. • 6.6.tpi.4 collect and/or observe various fossils and relate them to biogeographical changes. Materials produced by the University of Tennessee GK-12 Earth Project, funded by the National Science Foundation GK-12 Program under grant # DGE-0538420.

  42. Initial Results • Six classes at Carpenters Middle School, Maryville, found 861 items in ~3,000 cc of matrix. Students found: • 743 plant macrofossils (twigs, fragments of tree bark, seeds and conifer needles) • 116 rocks • 2 shells • All items and data will be sent back to Ithaca, NY, where they will be cataloged by PRI and Cornell paleontologists • We plan to share this activity with nine other middle-school teachers in the Knoxville area Materials produced by the University of Tennessee GK-12 Earth Project, funded by the National Science Foundation GK-12 Program under grant # DGE-0538420.

  43. Couldn’t Do This Without… • Rob Ross and his staff at the PRI • The National Science Foundation GK-12 Program and Grant # DGE-0538420 • Bryan Schultz, who helped collect matrix at PRI • The University of Tennessee • Cornell University • All of our GK–12 teacher-partners at Carpenters, Halls, Heritage, Holston, Jefferson, Northview, and Seymour Middle Schools • Faculty Advisors at the University of Tennessee Materials produced by the University of Tennessee GK-12 Earth Project, funded by the National Science Foundation GK-12 Program under grant # DGE-0538420.

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