Fossils

[Deeisenberg]

There is nothing wrong with using a difficult specimen. For one thing if you can ID spemicems that aren't fantastic that probably means that you are better at the event. Also many people don't have fantastic specimens of everything. Also that seems good enough, and right now, I am fairly certain that it is Favosites, and would probably be sure if I had the actual specimen in front of me.

[danger will robinson]

I agree. I'm always really happy when it's a hard test because then stupid mistakes won't impact you quite as much. Also, someone that doesn't know what they're doing can't luck out and take medals from people that study all the time.

[Guy]

Does anyone know which test packets in the soinc store to get for the last time Fossils was a div. C event? And are test packets actually worth getting?

[LabRat]

"Coaches Guide to Rocks, Minerals and Fossils" has 2 pages on Fossils... There is not one image there.
"Test packet, Division C, 2005" has one exam. These are slim pickins, IMO.

The Sci Oly Fossils CDRom is more helpful; it contains the 2004 NYS Regional Science Olympiad Division B Fossils exam.

Look online - search for Paleontology Exam, Dinosaur exam, etc. You will eventually find some university exams that are helpful.

Here is one link to a paleontology exam: http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/images/his ... m_exam.jpg

[RightorRong]

What should we put in our Fossils binders?

[danger will robinson]

Basically anything that you don't know. Since we are allowed to bring "a binder of any size", don't be stingy about what you put in. But make sure you're organized so you can find everything in the competition when you're freaking out. For the things that you should know, check out the 1st page of the rules.

[maggymay]

Take a look at the Virginia SO site, they have the two regional tests posted (they only posted the only answers for Langley). It was an eye-opener for me - tests can be *really* different. It depends on who the test-writer is. You might get a geology/rocks person - it will be tilted more towards strata, types of rocks, etc. Or you might get a fossils buff and the test could be completely different - just like the two Regional tests in Virginia.

This might sound obvious, but make sure you print out the 2009 Fossils list & put it in your binder. If you have to guess, at least you'll know what to pick from - maybe also put a copy of the rules in there as well.

[RightorRong]

Do we have to know about the anatomy of the fossils? If so, do we have to label them?

[dudeincolorado]

Like maggymay said depends on you writer. Like I had questions on ithyosarus vertebrates and such, but the supervisor on my event was practically a paleontologist. So yeah.

[dudeincolorado]

What should we put in our Fossils binders?

You should put what you don't know in it, but keep it light and fun sized! have you ever tried to look like 4 things up in a dictionary? It's just not possible. Keep it fun sized!