Evidence of Earth's Change

S6E5g Geologic Change Over Time

By Misty Thomas

S6E5.g   Construct an argument using maps and data collected to support a claim of how fossils show evidence of the changing surface and climate of the Earth. 

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• I can identify characteristics of fossils. (Knowledge)

• I can explain how fossils show evidence of the changing surface of the Earth.  (Reasoning)

• I can explain how fossils show evidence of the changing climate of the Earth.  (Reasoning)

Quick Review

Open Ended

What causes sea floor spreading or plates to move?

Multiple Choice

Where do convection curernts happen in earth's layers?

• Crust

• Mantle

• Inner Core

• Outer Core

As scientists understanding of continental drift, mid-ocean ridges, ​and sea-floor spreading grew, scientists formed a theory to explain these processes and features called Plate Tectonics!

Multiple Choice

All continents joined together in a single mass was named what by Wegener?

• Pangaea

• Continents

Multiple Choice

After scientists continued to learn more about the movement of plates, Wegener's theory of Pangea later evolved into __________________.

• Plate Tectonics

• Supercontinent

• Pangaea

Multiple Choice

Plates that collide together

• Transform

• Divergent

• Convergent

Multiple Choice

Plates that slide past each other

• Transform

• Divergent

• Convergent

Multiple Choice

Plates that move away from each other

• Transform

• Divergent

• Convergent

Multiple Choice

Wnat is happening at point Y?

• Plates are being shoved together by the movement of the magma in the mantle, creating a mountain range.

• Plates are being pulled apart by the movement

  of the magma in the mantle, allowing magma to

  ooze up, creating new crust.

Multiple Choice

What causes the area around the Pacific Ocean to have an abundance of volcanoes?

• convergent plates

• divergent plates

Multiple Choice

The volcanoes form when the ________ plate moves under the__________ plate at a __________ boundary.

• Continental, oceanic, convergent

• Oceanic, Continental, divergent

• Oceanic, Continental, Convergent

• Continental, Oceanic, Transform

There are many different ways scientists know plate tectonics exist!

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Similar patterns are found around the world in high peaks.

Multiple Choice

At a _________________ boundary mountains form when two continental plates collide.

Neither plate is dense enough to subduct into the mantle, so the

collision pushes the crust up to create

mountain ranges

• Transform

• Divergent

• Convergent

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Marks left behind shows scientists the direction of the ice movement.

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Multiple Choice

Similar patterns are found around the world in high peaks.

• Mountain Range Evidence

• Glacier Evidence

Multiple Choice

Marks left behind showing direction of ice movement

• Mountain Range Evidence

• Glacial Evidence

• Fossil Evidence

Fossils

How do we know Pangea existed?

Fossils are the trace or remains of organisms that lived long ago, most commonly preserved in sedimentary rock. Fossils may be skeletons or body parts, shells, burrows, or ancient coral reefs. Fossils form in many different way.

Some text here about the topic of discussion

Multiple Choice

This evidence shows ancient animals lived on several continents, even though they are an ocean apart.

• Mountain Range Evidence

• Glacier Evidence

• Fossil Evidence

Fossils

How do we know Pangea existed?

Scientists found evidence that Earth's crust had been lifted above its original level by finding fossils of sea animals on mountaintops,

Some text here about the topic of discussion

Multiple Choice

Where do scientists find evidence that the Earth's crust has been lifted above its original level?

• Heavy rocks in deep oceans

• heavy rocks on mountain tops

• fossils of sea animals found on mountaintops

• fossils of sea animals deep in oceans

Multiple Choice

A science class is looking at the fossils in different layers of a cliff. They found fossils of fish in lower layers. Which conclusion is best supported by the presence of the fossils?

• The climate in the area used to be much warmer.

• The fossils were carried to the area by rain runoff.

• The area was once a desert.

• The area used to be underwater.

The Climate of an area describes the weather conditions in the area over a long period of time. In addition to using fossils, scientists also analyzed other materials to study how Earth's climate and environmental conditions have changed over time.

​Some text here about the topic of discussion.

Climate

Multiple Choice

Moose can only survive in colder climates. Which would most likely explain finding moose fossils in an area with a warm climate?

• All organisms used to be able to survive in warm climates.

• The fossils were washed to the area by a current of water.

• The moose migrated to a warm area to reproduce.

• The area used to have a much colder climate.

The reptile skeletons are only found on the African continent and South America. That fact would support the argument that South America was joined to the west coast of Africa 300 million years ago.

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The diagram shows South America, Africa and a Mesosaurus, a reptile that lived 300 million years ago.

Fossil Evidence

Some text here about the topic of discussion

Multiple Choice

The fossils of this reptile were found only on the continents of South America and Africa. If this reptile could swim across the Atlantic Ocean, its fossils would have been found on other continents. What argument can BEST be made using this diagram?

• Earth's surface was once under water.

• Earth's landmasses continue to erode causing animal populations to be separated.

• Earth's plates are in the same location today as they were millions of years ago.

• Earth's continents were once closer together.

What soil type is the fossil in?

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What can we conclude?​

​Some text here about the topic of discussion.

What can we infer?

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What do you observe? ​

Multiple Choice

Which best describes the relationship between the three fossils?

• The fossils formed from organisms living in the same time period.

• The fossils all formed from similar species of organisms.

• The fossils formed from organisms that lived in the same environment