Swimming Through Ancient Seas: Fossils from the Burgess Shale - Virtual

Explore by the Seat of Your Pants with Jean-Bernard Caron

Catégorie

Virtual Lessons with ROM Educators

Durée

45 minutes

Public

Educators, French Presentation, Schools

Âge

8-12

Classe

4-6

Sujets

Canada, Science

About

Hear stories of travel, study, and the discovery of some of the strangest fossils in Earth’s history in this exclusive theatre Lesson.

Book now

Palaeontologists at ROM have been discovering amazing fossils in the Rocky Mountains for over 50 years. These incredibly detailed fossils give us a view of what life looked like during the Cambrian Explosion 500 million years ago. These strange creatures with interesting features may seem alien, but they actually represent all major animal groups found on Earth today. 

Join Jean-Bernard Caron, ROM Richard M. Ivey Curator of Invertebrate Palaeontology, for stories of travel, study, and discovery in this special session in the Eaton Theatre at ROM. Students will hear about Jean-Bernard’s experiences working in Yoho National Park, see images of the rugged landscape, camp life, and fossils, and learn about the exciting results of ROM research. 

 

Delivery LanguageThis lesson is offered in English and French
Activities
  • Virtual gallery exploration
  • Polls, quizzes, and Q&A
FormatVirtual Lesson
Duration1 hour
PricingFree
Minimum Group10
Maximum Group600

Available Dates

English

  • May 28, 2026 - 9:30 AM

French

  • May 28, 2026 - 11:15 AM

Guest Presenter

Dr. Jean-Bernard Caron
Jean-Bernard Caron

Jean-Bernard Caron became fascinated with fossils as a child in his native France. He spent the summers of his teenaged years volunteering at archaeological and palaeontological digs in France and Spain. He joined ROM Burgess Shale field crews as a volunteer in 1998,1999, and 2000 at the invitation of late Senior Curator of Invertebrate Palaeontology Dr. Desmond Collins. Dr. Caron joined ROM in early 2006 and was appointed the Richard M. Ivey Curator of Invertebrate Palaeontology in 2018.

Dr. Caron’s research focuses on fossils from the famous Burgess Shale deposit in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia. The Burgess Shale is of global significance for understanding Cambrian life. It was designated a World Heritage Site in 1980 and became part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site in 1984. ROM has been conducting research at the Burgess Shale since 1975, and its collections, which are held in trust for Parks Canada, are the largest in the world. 

Jean-Bernard Caron

Learning Goals

Learn how fossils are uncovered, excavated, transported, catalogued, and prepared for display at a museum.

Understand the incredible diversity of living things represented within fossils from the Burgess Shale.

Understand the connections between the ancient life represented by the Burgess Shale fossils and living things on Earth today

Curriculum Connections

Highlights

Jean-Bernard Caron debout sur une colline avec des montagnes en arrière-plan
01
Des caisses sont soulevées par un hélicoptère.
02
Mosura fentoni, un ancien prédateur marin qui a vécu à une époque de changements évolutifs rapides connue sous le nom de période cambrienne.
03
Photographie du fossile à côté de l'illustration du spécimen.
04
Paléontologues travaillant sur place dans les montagnes Rocheuses du Canada.
05
Photographie de fossiles avant et après leur préparation au laboratoire.
06
Jean-Bernard Caron et Maydianne Andrade, du ROM, sur le site de la carrière, discutant de ces fossiles nouvellement révélés.
07
Fossile complet (Holotype ROMIP 65078) de Cambroraster falcatus, montrant les yeux et le corps avec des lamelles de natation jumelées sous la grande carapace de la tête. Le schiste dans lequel le fossile était enfoui a été fendu, laissant des parties du corps des deux côtés (à droite et à gauche).
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