What do paleontologists do? Objective Students will be able to define what paleontology is and what a paleontologist does. They will also be able to list the steps paleontologists take when digging for fossils using appropriate tools and methods. Lastly, students will learn how to piece “fossils” back together and develop theories of the “fossils” history. Background Paleontologists are scientists who study fossils. Generally, fossils are found in very remote and inaccessible regions throughout the world. There are many steps taken by paleontologists to discover fossils. For example, the job r Duration: 60 Minutes.