Vocabulary
The trace remains of something that lived long ago is called a _________
fossil
Name at least 3 animals that are extinct today
Dinosaurs, Mammoths, Saber toothed tiger, etc.
Most fossils are found in places with lots of dirt or rocks. Why is this?
Because dirt and rock helps preserve fossils and that is what keeps them safe long enough to find.
Studying fossils can teach us...
How living things change
An organism that has very few of its kind left on Earth is considered to be __________
endangered.
How do trace fossils form?
What helps fossils last a long time?
Being protected by layers of dirt and rocks.
What would you know about an animal whose fossilized tooth was sharp?
The animal was most likely a meat eater.
Most organisms we find fossils of today are no longer alive. What do we call it when an entire species is no longer alive?
Extinct
What is the most likely part of an animal to form a fossil?
Its teeth or bones
What are some tools a paleontologist might use to find fossils?
Brush, chisel, hammer, etc.
Name 3 things that fossils can tell us about an organism
What it looked like, when it lived, how they have changed, what it ate, how it moved, etc.
What is the job of the skeleton in an animals body?
To support the body.
Which of the following types of fossils are imprint fossils: leaves, teeth, shells, footprints, bones
Leaves and footprints
It is more common to find animal fossils than plant fossils. Why is this?
Because plants have more soft tissue that breaks down. Animals can have bones, teeth, and shells that survive better.
If you found a fossilized shark tooth, how could you prove that the ancient shark is related to a great white shark today?
Show the teeth next to each other to show people the similarities.
What is the name of a scientist who studies fossils?
DAILY DOUBLE: For double points, correctly spell the name of this scientist
Paleontologist
Fossils of a shark were found in the middle of the desert. What does this tell us about what this area looked like a long time ago?
It used to be a body of water.
A scientist found three fossils at three different depths. Fossil A was 500 ft. down, Fossil B was at 100 ft. and Fossil C was at 700 feet down. Put the fossils in order according to age from oldest to youngest.
Fossil C, Fossil A, Fossil B
A tropical plant fossil was found in a place that today is known for being very cold. What can you infer from this fossil being found here?
That a long time ago this area was hot and rainy (tropical)