Fossils

Front

What are fossils?

Back

Fossils are the preserved remains of plants or animals that lived long ago.

Front

How are dinosaur fossil bones formed?

Back

Dinosaur fossil bones are formed when the dinosaur is covered in sediment after it dies.

Front

What is amber?

Back

Amber is hardened tree sap that can trap small organisms.

Front

Who studies fossils?

Back

People who study fossils are called paleontologists.

Front

What must happen first for a fossil to form?

Back

An animal must die.

Front

What is sediment?

Back

Sediment is small particles of soil, sand, and other materials that can cover remains.

Front

What is a mold in fossil formation?

Back

A mold is a hollow impression left in sediment when an organism decays.

Front

What is a cast in fossil formation?

Back

A cast is a solid copy of the shape of an organism that forms when minerals fill a mold.

Front

What is the difference between a fossil and a rock?

Back

A fossil is the remains of a living organism, while a rock is a solid mass of minerals.

Front

What can fossils tell us about the past?

Back

Fossils can provide information about what ancient life was like and how environments have changed.