THUSDAY_Jan.30_Structures and functions of organisms

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Do Now

Scientists working in a cold, arctic
environment find fossils of plant
leaves. The leaves are similar to
the palm trees we see on Earth
today. How was this environment
probably different in the past than
it is now? Explain your reasoning.

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Interactions in Ecosystems

LO: SWBAT use fossils to describe
the relationship between the structures
and functions of organisms and the
organisms' past environments.
DOL: Given scenarios, SW correctly use fossils to describe
the relationship between the structures and functions of
organisms and the organisms' 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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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 9

January 29, 2025

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Essential Understandings &

Guiding Questions

What can fossils tell us about the past?

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Imagine you are a scientist who discovered a fossilized

shark tooth in a desert.

What does that tell you about the desert’s past?

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How do fossils provide clues to the past?

Predict how scientists use fossils to learn

about life long ago.

As you read, look for information about
how fossils form and what we learn from

studying fossils.

Explain why fossils are sometimes found

in environments that are different from

where the organisms once lived.

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Which environment did these organisms probably live in?

a rainforest

an ocean

a desert

Fossils

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Compare and contrast the two examples of fossils.

A fossil is the preserved remains of a living thing from long ago. Fossils
can form from an imprint, or a mark made by pressing on a surface.

Photo credit: Nuntiya/Shutterstock; Michal Ninger/Shutterstock

Copyright © Savvas Learning Company LLC. All Rights Reserved. Savvas is not responsible for any modifications made by end users to the content posted in its original format.

Remains of Living Things

This is a fossil of ichthyosaurus, which
no longer exists on Earth. What are
some questions you would ask about
this animal and where it lived?

Sample questions:
Did this animal live in water?
Did this animal live on land?
What did this animal eat?
When did this animal exist?

Photo credit: frantic00/Shutterstock

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Organism structures and functions

Organisms have specific structures that allow them to survive in their environment.
This is also true for organisms that lived in the past.

Fossil structures are directly related to the
functions that helped the organism survive. This
provides clues on what the environment was like in
the past and how it may have changed over time.

If a fern fossil is found in a desert, what
can it tell us about the past environment?

Copyright © Savvas Learning Company LLC. All Rights Reserved. Savvas is not responsible for any modifications made by end users to the content posted in its original format.

What do fossils tell us about past organisms?

Studying fossils helps scientists

understand how organisms lived and
interacted with each other and their

environment.

Fossils can show what organisms’
body parts may have looked like.

Photo credit: Jeff Lepore/Science Source

Copyright © Savvas Learning Company LLC. All Rights Reserved. Savvas is not responsible for any modifications made by end users to the content posted in its original format.

Past Organisms

Teeth fossils tell us about the type of food
past organisms ate.
●Predict which organism ate plants and
which ate animals.

●Explain your reasoning.

Organism A ate plants because the flat
teeth look like they are good for chewing
and grinding down grass and other plants.

Organism B ate meat because the teeth
are sharp and can be used for capturing
prey and tearing the food.

A

B

Photo credit: Bascar/Shutterstock; Gabbro/Alamy Stock Photo

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Imagine you are a scientist who discovered a fossilized

shark tooth in a desert.

What does that tell you about the desert’s past?

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A fossilized skeleton of an animal has sharp claws and sharp teeth. Did this
animal likely eat mostly plants or mostly animals? Explain your reasoning.

Past environments

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Analyze Fossils

Look at the fossilized remains of each organism. Match each organism to the choice
that best describes it.

1

2

3

walked on land

climbed trees

swam in the ocean

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DOL: Given scenarios,
SW correctly use
fossils to describe the
relationship between
the structures and
functions of
organisms and the
organisms' 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