TUESDAY_01.28._ClassifyFossils

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Do Now

1. A flowchart shows arrows pointing from the Sun to
plants, from plants to herbivores, and from herbivores
to carnivores.

What role do plants play in this energy flow model?

A.

Producers that convert sunlight into energy.

B.

Consumers that eat herbivores for energy.

C.

Decomposers that recycle nutrients into the soil.

D.

Predators that control herbivore populations.

2. In a flowchart, decomposers like fungi and bacteria
are shown with arrows pointing to both producers and
consumers.

What does this indicate about the role of decomposers
in the energy flow of an ecosystem?

A.

Decomposers produce energy directly from the
Sun.

B.

Decomposers transfer energy back to plants and
consumers by recycling nutrients.

C.

Decomposers consume producers and provide
energy to carnivores.

D.

Decomposers store energy for future use in the
ecosystem.

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Interactions in Ecosystems

LO: SWBAT observe and classify
fossils based on their structures
and use these fossils to describe
past environments.
DOL: Given scenarios, SW correctly observe and
classify fossils based on their structures and use these
fossils to describe past environments in at least 4 of 5
questions.
SCI.4.12C Identify and describe past environments based on fossil evidence, including common Texas fossils.
SEPs 4.3A
RTCs 4.5A, 4.5B

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Lesson Vocabulary

fossil

imprint

paleontologist

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Tree Roots

5

Fern

6

Turtle

7

Lizard

8

Perch

9

Sea

Cucumber

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Fossil

The remains of an
organism, plant, or
animal, that lived long
ago

Image by TheUjulala from Pixabay

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Imprint

A mark made by
pressing on a surface

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Paleontologist

A scientists who
studies fossils to learn
about the history of life
on Earth

4th Grade Science
Interactions in Ecosystems
Lesson 8

January 27, 2025

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Essential Understandings &

Guiding Questions

What do fossils tell us about past living organisms and the

nature of the environments where they lived?

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What do you notice or wonder about the image?

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Fossil’s Environment

Observe the fossil pictures.
Read about the various

environments.

Saltwater

Freshwater

Swamp

Desert

Identify which fossil could
have been found in each

environment.

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What are Fossils?

Fossils are the remains or traces of
animals and plants that lived on Earth
millions of years ago.

As animals and plants die, they are buried in
layers of sediments, and with time and pressure,
they are preserved as remains or traces.

Image by kkorvin from Pixabay

Image by Petr Beneš from Pixabay

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What is a paleontologist?

Scientists study fossils to gain a deeper
understanding of what different ancient
environments were like.

By studying fossils, scientists can tell several things
about the environment:

●If there were any major disasters in the area

●If drought killed the animals and plants

●If any other factors caused changes to the
ecosystem of the area

A scientist who studies fossils to learn about the history of life on Earth

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Fossils

Fossils can also tell if the landforms changed over time. For example, when scientists
find sea fossils in dry desert areas, what can they conclude?

They can conclude that the
area used to be covered with
______________.

ocean water

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Fossils

What are

paleontologists
able to find out

about the

creatures in

fossils?

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What do fossils tell us about past living organisms and the nature of the

environments where they lived?

Let’s revisit the phenomenon.

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Fossils

By examining fossils, scientists think that—

A.

plants have changed over time, but animals have not

B.

animals have changed over time, but plants have not

C.

many changes have occurred to plants and animals

D.

it is not possible to determine the past from fossils

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Fossils

Scientists claim that the area around the Grand Canyon was once
covered by an ocean. What evidence would support their claim?

A.

Dinosaur footprints were found near the Grand Canyon.

B.

Fish were found living in the rivers of the Grand Canyon.

C.

Fossils of ocean animals were found at the Grand Canyon.

D.

Bones from desert animals were found at the Grand Canyon.

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DOL: Given
scenarios, SW
correctly observe and
classify fossils based
on their structures
and use these fossils
to describe past
environments in at
least 4 of 5
questions.

Demonstration of Learning

●Some images used in this lesson are taken from Adobe Stock. Adobe Stock
https://stock.adobe.com

●Some images used in this lesson are taken from Great Minds. Great Minds
https://digital.greatminds.org

●Some images used in this lesson are taken from SAVVAS realize. SAVVAS
realize https://www.savvasrealize.com

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Copyright for Reference