Fossils and Earth's History (4th Grade)

What do fossils tell us about life on Earth?

• The age of the Earth

• How the Earth's core formed

• What types of living organisms existed in the past

• The formation of mountains

Tags

NGSS.3-LS4-1

Which of the following best describes a mold fossil?

• Created when the animal's waste hardens.

• Hollow imprint left in rock that shows the shape of an organism.

• Solid replica of an organism's body formed by minerals.

• A fossil that preserves the organism’s DNA.

How does a cast fossil form?

• When an animal’s foot leaves an imprint in soft mud or sediment

• When an organism's shell or exoskeleton leaves an impression in rock

• When a mold fossil fills with minerals and hardens

• When an organism is frozen in ice

Which type of fossil is created when an insect is trapped in amber?

• Trace fossil

• Cast fossil

• Mold fossil

• Preserved fossil

Tags

NGSS.3-LS4-1

Which of the following is an example of a trace fossil?

• Petrified wood

• A footprint in mud

• A leaf imprint

• A fish skeleton

Which condition is most favorable for fossil formation?

• Quickly buried in sediment

• Exposure to oxygen

• Eaten by scavengers

• Exposure to wind

Which observation would most likely indicate that two fossils are related?

• They were found in the same location.

• They lived during the same time period.

• They share similar body structures.

• They are from different environments.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Fossilized pollen is found in sedimentary rock. What information can this provide?

• The types of plants that lived in the area

• The diet of ancient animals

• Amount of rainfall at that time

• Direction of ancient winds

Tags

NGSS.3-LS4-1

What does the presence of shark teeth fossils in an area suggest about its past environment?

• It was once a forest.

• It was once covered by a desert.

• It was once underwater.

• It was always a tundra.

Tags

NGSS.3-LS4-1

NGSS.4-ESS1-1

Fossils of tropical plants are found in Antarctica. What is the best conclusion about Earth's history?

• Antarctica has always been frozen.

• Earth's climate was once warmer in that region.

• Fossils form only in ice.

• Tropical plants can grow in any environment.

Tags

NGSS.3-LS4-1

NGSS.3-ESS2-2