Front

What is a fossil?

Back

A fossil is the hardened remains of a plant or an animal that lived long ago.

Front

Which of the following is NOT a way an organism could become a fossil?

Back

An organism can be left out in the sun to harden.

Front

What can scientists learn about by studying fossils?

Back

Scientists can learn about the past.

Front

What is the last step in the process of how a fossil is formed?

Back

As time passes, sediment hardens into rock, layering on top of the animal or plant part. The bones or shells decay into minerals, joining the rock.

Front

What does the size difference in shark teeth fossils suggest?

Back

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

Front

What is sediment?

Back

Sediment is small pieces of rock, soil, and organic material that can cover and preserve remains.

Front

What is the role of time in fossil formation?

Back

Time allows sediment to harden into rock and helps preserve the remains of organisms.

Front

What type of environment helps in fossil formation?

Back

Wet environments, like riverbanks, help in fossil formation by quickly burying remains.

Front

What are the hard parts of an animal that can become fossils?

Back

Bones, teeth, claws, and shells are hard parts that can become fossils.

Front

What is the process of an organism becoming a fossil called?

Back

Fossilization.