Fossil Record Lesson

Drag and Drop

A ​

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is any remains of ancient life. They can be either ​

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or trace fossils. The preservation of fossils is a relatively ​

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process. Fossils give us ​

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about the history of life on ​

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.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

fossil

body

rare

clues

Earth

Mars

common

alien

Match

Match the following descriptions to their correct terms.

• Show evidence of activity - footprints, trails, nests/burrows.

• A mold that was filled in and then turned into rock. Show the 3D form of the animal.

• The actual plant or animal was trapped in amber, ice or tar.

• Shows an impression of the organism in the rocks. Scientists use plaster to make a cast fossil from this type of fossil.

Trace Fossils

Cast Fossils

True Form Fossils

Mold Fossils

• Trace Fossils

• Cast Fossils

• True Form Fossils

• Mold Fossils

Multiple Choice

The millions of fossils that scientists have collected are called

• The Geologic Time Scale
• The Origin of Species
• The Fossil Record
• A really neat fossil collection

Multiple Choice

Which of the following can be learned by using the fossil record?

• When organisms changed or evolved

• when organisms appeared on Earth

• when organisms became extinct

• All the above

Multiple Choice

By determining the age of fossils, scientists can reconstruct the history of life on Earth

• True
• False

Reorder

Reorder the following to correctly describe how fossils form over time.

• Sediment - Animal dies & is buried by sediment, such as ash or silt.

• Layers - More sediment layers pile above animal remains & minerals.

• Movement - Tectonic plates move and push fossil closer to Earth's surface.

• Erosion - Wears away the remaining rock layers. Eventually people find fossils.

1

2

3

4

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4

Multiple Choice

A description of all known fossils that is organized in order from the oldest to the most recent

• Fossil

• Unconformity

• Fossil Record

• Record of Time

Draw

Circle the OLDEST fossil pictured in the geologic column.

Draw

Circle the YOUNGEST fossil pictured in the geologic column.

Dropdown

Drastic changes in fossil types between two stratum levels (layers of sedimentary rock) can be evidence of a ​

Select answer

.

Multiple Select

Which of the following organism(s) is most likely to fossilize?

• Mammoth

• Jellyfish

• Slugs

• Worm

• Snail

Reorder

Order the following geologic time periods from OLDEST (4) to MOST RECENT (1).

• Precambrian

• Paleozoic

• Mesozoic

• Cenozoic

1

2

3

4

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is true about the Precambrian Era?

• Common Precambrian fossils include dinosaurs.

• Known as "Age of Early Life"

• Occurred about 50 million years ago

• Known for mammoths and sharks

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is true about the Paleozoic Era?

• Common Paleozoic fossils include mats of algae, microorganisms, and simple animals.

• Known as "Age of Reptiles"

• Occurred between 252 to 66 million years ago

• Known for the greatest mass extinction in Earth's history

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is true about the Mesozoic Era?

• Common Mesozoic fossils include dinosaur bones and teeth, and diverse plant fossils.

• Occurred wayyy before 541 million years ago.

• It was known for the greatest mass extinction in Earth's history.

• Birds and mammals rose in prominence after the extinction of giant reptiles.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is true about the Cenozoic Era?

• Common Mesozoic fossils include dinosaur bones and teeth, and diverse plant fossils.

• Occurred between 541 and 252 million years ago.

• It was known for the greatest mass extinction in Earth's history.

• Known as the "Age of Mammals"

Multiple Choice

Which of the following could form a fossil?

• Bone
• Shell
• Seeds
• All of the above

Multiple Choice

Most fossils form when organisms that die become buried in sediments

• True
• False

Multiple Choice

In what way can scientists determine the ages of fossils?

• relative dating
• radioactive dating
• law of superposition
• All of the above

Multiple Choice

The millions of fossils that scientists have collected are called

• The Geologic Time Scale
• The Origin of Species
• The Fossil Record
• A really neat fossil collection

Multiple Choice

How many layers is fossil 'A' found in?

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

Multiple Choice

Which fossils are found in layer 5.

• A, B

• A, C

• C only

• C, D

Multiple Choice

How many of each fossil is found in layer 5?

• 2 of fossil C and 3 of fossil D

• 1 of fossil B and 3 of fossil D

• 2 of fossil B and 2 of fossil D

• 3 of fossil C and 2 of fossil D

Multiple Choice

What are the oldest fossils and why?

• B, C- because they are closest to the top

• A, B- because they are closest to the bottom

• They are all the same age- because they are all found on layer 2

• A, B- because they are found closest to the top

Multiple Choice

When did fossil A become extinct?

• Layer 1

• Layer 2

• Layer 3

• Layer 4