Fossil
#1 Vocabulary • Fossil – Remains or evidence of an organism which have been buried for millions of years
A dinosaur dies at a stream's edge.
#2 How is a fossil formed? Over time the body gets more buried, and it starts decomposing (rotting). The skeleton is left buried in a layer of sediment.
As time goes on layers of rock are piled on top of the fossil.
Time
#3 Where are the youngest strata? Where are the oldest strata?
Strata = another word for layer
#4 Draw a picture of the oldest fossils. Draw a picture of the youngest fossils. How do you know?
Making predictions #5 If there were 200 species living 100 million years ago and only 25 species living 50 million years ago, then draw a picture of what the fossil layers would look like. #6 If there were 50 species living 200 million years ago and 500 species living 50 million years ago, then draw a picture of what the fossil layers would look like.
A dinosaur dies at a stream's edge.
#2 How is a fossil formed? Over time the body gets more buried, and it starts decomposing (rotting). The skeleton is left buried in a layer of sediment.
As time goes on layers of rock are piled on top of the fossil.
Time
#3 Where are the youngest strata? Where are the oldest strata?
Strata = another word for layer
#4 Draw a picture of the oldest fossils. Draw a picture of the youngest fossils. How do you know?
Making predictions #5 If there were 200 species living 100 million years ago and only 25 species living 50 million years ago, then draw a picture of what the fossil layers would look like. #6 If there were 50 species living 200 million years ago and 500 species living 50 million years ago, then draw a picture of what the fossil layers would look like.
