Fossils

Front

What is a fossil?

Back

A fossil is the preserved remains or traces of a living thing from a long time ago.

Front

What is the first step in the fossilization process?

Back

The animal dies. The skin and other soft parts rot away.

Front

What can fossils tell us about the past?

Back

Fossils can provide information about what plants and animals lived in an area and the environment they lived in.

Front

What is a common type of fossil?

Back

A common type of fossil is a bone or shell.

Front

What does a fossil of a shell indicate?

Back

It indicates that the area was once covered by water.

Front

What is the process of fossilization?

Back

Fossilization is the process where living things are buried and preserved over millions of years.

Front

What can we learn from a leaf fossil?

Back

We can learn about the size of the leaf and the type of plant it came from.

Front

What is a trace fossil?

Back

A trace fossil is a fossil that shows evidence of the activity of an organism, like footprints.

Front

Why are fossils important to scientists?

Back

Fossils help scientists understand the history of life on Earth and how environments have changed.

Front

What is an example of a plant fossil?

Back

An example of a plant fossil is a fossilized leaf.