sharkfinder®
citizen science
Recognized by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, Nature, Science, Scientific America and Voice of America.
Find a new species or first occurrence of a species. Work with unsearched fossil media to find shark, ray, and skate teeth from ocean sediments that date back millions of years. And, if you make a scientifically significant discovery, you get the credit!
When a participant of the SharkFinder® program finds a scientifically significant fossil specimen, they are acknowledged by name in the resulting professional publication. Contributors with a valuable contribution will receive a certificate of accomplishment.
6,264 Classroom Citizen Scientists
5,947 Lab Contributions
lab space set up for phase 1:
fossil matrix preparation
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Triple Beam Balance
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150 ML beaker
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2 large paper plates
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10 mesh and 35 mesh sieves
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Task card "Massing your matrix sample"
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6 (5 gallon) buckets for water (fill to first line)
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Matrix in a bucket with scooper (matrix must be slushy and not dry otherwise, fossils will break)
lab space set up for phase 2:
fossil
investigation
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Sieved dry material from larger sieve
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Two small paper plates (for color separation)
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Toothpicks
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Hand lens
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Digital microscope
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Eppendorf tube
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Ziplock bag
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Student information sheet
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iPad
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Identification charts
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Task card "Observation & Classification"
lab space set up for phase 3:
microfossil investigation
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Sieved dry material from smaller sieve
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Small paper plates
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Petri dish
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Toothpicks
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Stereo microscope
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Eppendorf tube
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Ziplock bag
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Student information sheet
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Identification charts
Matrix should be sieved until all gray sediment is broken down.
Black indicates fossilization.
poorly sieved matrix
This sample was properly sieved as most of the sample is black material which indicates fossilization.
The more black material you have, the more you can investigate.
poorly sieved matrix
going through the sharkfinder® process
(videos)
how-to sing along video
activities & ideas
All About Sharks
Grades 2-5
(Contact us to receive
the activity book)
Ocean Adventures: Educator Guide
collectors patch
Students can commemorate their SharkFinder® experience with a collectors patch by making a minimum $10 donation! Nearly 90% of donations received from your donation drive are returned back to you. Contact us to receive donation forms.
social learning
Flipgrid is a video social learning platform where students may share their findings and interact with SharkFinder® principal investigator
Shawn Hamm and paleontologist,
Jason Osborne.
To access the grid contact the ECISD Innovation Department at
(432) 456-0999.
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