13 questions
5th - 5th Grade
Science
Fossils is a free printable Grade 5 science worksheet with 13 questions covering fossil formation, sedimentary rocks, relative age of rock layers, fossil fuels, and related Earth science processes. Students answer multiple-choice questions, drag-and-drop classification items, fill-in-the-blank layer questions, a word-association matching task, and a dropdown question about renewable resources. The worksheet asks students to identify where fossils are usually found, sequence the first step in fossil formation, recognize the role of paleontologists, and determine which numbered sedimentary layers are oldest or youngest. It also reinforces examples of fossil fuels, how moving water creates sedimentary layers and deltas, and the meanings of weathering, erosion, deposition, compaction, and cementation. This free printable worksheet includes a complete answer key for checking student understanding.
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WorksheetsAnswer Keysedimentary rock
A plant or animal must die and decompose.
paleontologist
The bottom layer
6
Weathering
-Break down
,Deposition
-Lay down or drop off
,Compaction
-Squeeze/push together
,Cementation
-Stick together
,Erosion
-Carry away
This worksheet builds understanding of how fossils form, how sedimentary rock layers can be compared by relative age, and how fossil fuels are classified. Its 13 items use multiple choice, drag-and-drop, fill-in-the-blank, matching, and dropdown formats so students identify fossil-related vocabulary, select examples, sequence formation ideas, and interpret numbered rock layers.
Introduce the worksheet by reviewing that fossil formation begins when a plant or animal dies and decomposes, then have students explain why fossils are commonly found in sedimentary rock. Use the numbered-layer questions to prompt students to justify why layer 1 is oldest, layer 6 is youngest, and layer 6 is younger than layer 4 before they complete the remaining fossil fuels and Earth-process items.
Students may choose sedimentary rock as a fossil fuel, confuse the scientist who studies fossils with another science profession, or place the first fossil-formation step after burial instead of identifying death and decomposition. They may also reverse the relative ages of the numbered layers, select renewable materials as fossil fuels, or confuse erosion, deposition, compaction, and cementation in the matching activity.
You can assign the Fossils worksheet as a printable PDF or as a digital quiz on Wayground. It includes a complete answer key, and printable submissions can be graded by scanning student work with the Wayground for Teachers app. The PDF option also supports schools that are reducing screen time.
Use the worksheet’s Advanced Settings to adjust font spacing or choose a larger font size for the fossil-formation prompts, layer-age questions, and drag-and-drop items. You can also enable a dyslexia-friendly font or translate the worksheet into another language when those options better support students working with the science vocabulary.
Wayground offers a comprehensive collection of free printable worksheets and practice problems across subjects, with downloadable PDFs and answer keys to help students master essential skills and concepts. Browse more resources at https://wayground.com/en-us/worksheets.
