Fossils

A third grade class took a field trip to the nearby Museum of Natural History where they observed many different fossils. The students took careful notes of their observations and also took photos.

Upon return to the classroom, the teacher asked the students to choose one fossil and describe what the fossil might reveal about its past environment.

• The environment was much drier in the past.

• The environment supported several types of land and sea animals.

• The environment was underwater for a long period of time.

• The environment was able to produce corn and wheat.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Which of the following is true about the conditions necessary for fossils to form?

• Fossils are found only in parts of the world where there is water.

• Fossils are found only in parts of the world with volcanoes.

• Fossils are found all over the world, mostly in water.

• Fossils are found all over the world, mostly in rock.

The picture shows a tooth fossil of the extinct Megalodon shark next to teeth from a great white shark, which is still found today.

• Sharks were once larger than the sharks that are living today.

• The fossilized tooth was filled with water, which made it grow in size.

• Sharks alive today do not live long enough to grow very large teeth.

• The fossilized tooth had extra sediment around it, which became a part of it.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Scientists discovered the fossilized remains of an unidentified animal. They can tell from its remains that it had gills and fins, but no legs. What conclusion about the animal can they draw from the evidence?

• It was a land mammal.

• It lived in the water all the time.

• It had legs that did not fossilize.

• It lived in the water and on land.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

The box shows a list Alice created to explain the ways an organism can become a fossil.

• point U

• point X

• points W and Z

• points V and Y

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Which of the following shows the correct order of how an organism becomes a fossil?

• Step 1: The body is buried in sediment.

  Step 2: Sediment builds around the body.

  Step 3: The hard parts of the body decay.

  Step 4: Minerals and water fill in empty spaces.

  Step 5: Minerals and sediment harden.

• Step 1: Sediment builds around the body.

  Step 2: Minerals and sediment harden.

  Step 3: The body is buried in sediment.

  Step 4: Minerals and water fill in empty spaces.

  Step 5: The hard parts of the body decay.

• Step 1: The body is buried in sediment.

  Step 2: Minerals and sediment harden.

  Step 3: The hard parts of the body decay.

  Step 4: Sediment builds around the body.

  Step 5: Minerals and water fill in empty spaces.

• Step 1: Minerals and sediment harden.

  Step 2: The body is buried in sediment.

  Step 3: Minerals and water fill in empty spaces.

  Step 4: The hard parts of the body decay.

  Step 5: Sediment builds around the body.

Which of the following would be the best way to create a model of a fossil?

• making a footprint in sand and filling it with clay

• making a footprint in mud and filling it with water

• pressing a hand into snow and taking a picture of it

• pressing a hand onto the sidewalk and tracing it with chalk

What must happen to an organism's body for it to become a fossil?

• It must remain above ground.

• It must dry out in the sunlight.

• It must be buried right after death.

• It must be eaten by other animals.

The picture shows a fossil of a leaf.

• the size of the leaf

• the color of the leaf

• how fast the leaf grew

• which animals ate the leaf

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

A group of students made the model below to illustrate how a fossilized animal track forms.

Which step is missing from this model, and where should it be placed in the model the students created?

• Before the sediment is deposited, the animal must die.

• Before the rock layers form, the sediment must be washed away.

• After the track is made, the print must harden in the mud,

• After the print is exposed by erosion, the animal's bones must be removed.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4