Fossils and Past Environments Review

Observe the fossil found in this canyon wall. 

Which picture identifies evidence of a fossil that MIGHT have lived in the same environment as the fossil found in the canyon wall?

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Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Observe the fossils for evidence of the environment where they lived.

Choose the letters of TWO answers in the saltwater box to describe the environment in which each fossil lived.

• Trilobite

• Shell

• Bird

• Dinosaur

A group of students found a hillside with many fossils. They documented the different fossils found in each layer of the hillside. Which layer has the BEST evidence that the environment was once an ocean?

• Layer A: Contains fish fossils

• Layer B: Contains fern fossils

• Layer C: Contains dinosaur fossils

• Layer D: Contains bird fossils

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Mallory’s class went on a field trip to a canyon. The rock in the canyon wall had many fossils. Mallory collected observations and then drew the fossils she saw.

Based on those fossils, how could she describe the past environment of the canyon?

• There are fish fossils in the canyon wall.

• There are shell castings in the canyon wall.

• There are grassland fossils in the canyon wall.

• There are shell castings and fish fossils in the canyon wall.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Scientists use fossils to describe how environments on Earth have changed over time. Which fossil discovery represents a change in the environment where the fossil was found?

• polar bear bones in Alaska

• seashells in the sand at the beach

• horse bones in soil in the prairie

• fish fossils in rocks on top of a mountain

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-1