Fossil Vocab
This is a scientist who studies life from long ago.
Paleontologist
This is the first step of fossil formation where soft part rot away.
Decay
A fossilized footprint or nest is an example of this type of fossil.
Trace fossil
This modern animal is considered the "cousin" of the extinct Woolly Mammoth.
Elephant
Finding a fish fossil in this dry place is evidence it was once covered in water.
Desert
This term describes evidence of an organism that lived in the past.
Fossil
This specific classroom model helps us visualize how layers of Earth bury a fossil.
Sedimentary sandwich.
A fossilized bone or skull is an example of this type of fossil.
This is one physical structure that BOTH mammoths and elephants share
Trunks, tusks, or pillar-like legs
Finding this specific fossil on a mountain suggests the mountain was once under an ocean.
Sea Lilly
When an organism is no longer living on earth today, it is called this.
Extinct
These body parts are the most likely to become fossils because they do not decay quickly.
Bones, teeth, or shells.
This is the hollow space left in a rock that looks exactly like the organism.
Mold
The Woolly Mammoth had this trait to help it survive in a cold environment.
Thick, shaggy fur.
Paleontologist evaluate fossils to understand how this has changed over time.
Environment or habitat.
This is the name for the sand, mud, and silt that buries an organism.
Sediment
This 3D "copy" is formed when minerals fill a hollow space in a rock
Cast
This analogy explain that even if the animal is gone, the shape left behind is evidence.
Footprint in wet concrete.
The modern day elephant has these large body parts to help it stay cool.
Large, floppy ears.
To share their findings, paleontologist must do this with their data.
Scientist study this "body structure" of an organism to find similarities between species.
Anatomy.
Sequence these: Minerals fill space, organism decays, buried in sediment.
1. Organism decays
2. Buried in sediment
3. Minerals fill space
Trace fossils provide evidence of an organism's behavior if this.
Movement.
In our analogy, the Woolly Mammoth is like a winter coat and the elephant is like this.
A light t-shirt.
This "Essential Question" has been our focus for two weeks.
"How do fossils tell us about life from long ago"