Fossils

Which of the following is NOT a fossil?

an imprint of a fern leaf

the remains of a wooly mammoth

an imprint of a seashell in the side of a mountain

the snake skin found by the river

In which type of rock are you most likely to find a fossil?

What is the most common fossil found?

A scientist wants to learn more about the history of an area. Which of these fossils could mean that water once covered the area?

• fossil of a fern leaf
• fossil of a butterfly
• fossil of a footprint
• fossil of a shell

The remains of a once living thing is called a

What do scientists study fossils to learn about?

How have scientists learned about dinosaurs?

What is the third step in the fossilization process?

Why are any dinosaur parts found by scientists considered fossils?

Why might a scientist study a fossil of a plant that no longer exists? Options: to see if it can be removed from the fossil and grown today, to see if it contains useful minerals, to see how it is related to plants that are alive today, to see what animal once ate it.