University of Wyoming Geological Museum

View of the UW Geological Museum from the inside

University of Wyoming (UW) Geological Museum

! We are part of the Department  of Geology and Geophysics and are located in the town of Laramie, Wyoming. 

 for you to complete . Once you’ve completed the challenges, we have a 

 If you’d like to virtually visit the UW Geological Museum, check out this 360 degree tour of the museum on your computer, device, or 3D viewer 

Part of becoming a Junior Paleontologist is understanding and respecting the natural world around Wyoming, the United States, and the world. One of the best ways to remember this is to remember  “D-I-G.

Challenge #1: Can you recite the important parts of “D-I-G” from memory? Give it a try!

Great job! Now you're ready to start, proceed on to the next activity!

How can you become a Wyoming Junior Paleontologist?

The Stunning Cenozoic

The Petrifying Paleozoic

The Radical Rock Cycle

The Mysterious Mesozoic

Official Swearing In

We're getting ready to go on a dig! Help us pick out and circle 5 things we will need. 

Challenge #4: Excavation Tools

Connect the dots by counting up to reveal an ammonite, a relative of a modern day squid or octopus that was common in the Paleozoic!

Challenge #5: Who lived in the Paleozoic?

These are shapes of dinosaurs or reptiles that lived in the Mesozoic Era. Based on their shape, circle in white animals that you think are dinosaurs, draw a blue square around swimming reptiles, and draw a green triangle around those you think are flying reptiles. Use the shape of the body to give you clues. Does it have wings? Swimming paddles? Walk on two feet?

Challenge #6: Dinosaur vs. Reptile

Help Nip the Columbian Mammoth, one of our fossils at the UW Geological Museum from the Cenozoic, by 1. drawing in his missing tusks, and 2. by helping him find his way through the maze?

Challenge #7: Help the Columbian Mammoth

Sketch a red circle around the body fossils and a blue square around the trace fossils, including those that might be traces of human life (even though that’s part of archeology)! 

Challenge #2: Body vs. Trace Fossil

Use the Paint Tool and match the different fossils with their fossilization type, answers are based on those given in the previous slide show. 

Challenge #3: Fossilization Types

Now that you're a rock expert, can you draw a line to where you think each rock in the rock cycle would be made?

Challenge #8: The Rock Cycle

Slideshow on what is a fossil and the six ways in which they can form

What are fossils and how do they form?

Fill in your name on the top line with the text tool, and use the draw tool to add your signature to the bottom left. Congratulations!

Wyoming Junior Paleontologist Certificate

UW Geological Museum Paleontologists and Students Excavating an Eocene Crocodile

Paleontologists & Geologists

Join us on a fun journey to explore what a paleontologist does and follow along with a series of activities to learn about Wyoming’s Paleontology and Geology. 

This Resource kit is aimed at grades K-5, and offers very basic explanations and 8 challenges that are fast paced, visually interesting,  and not too challenging.

Resource Kits

Object Library

Museums

Become a Wyoming Junior Paleontologist

How can you become a Wyoming Junior Paleontologist?

Background Knowledge