What is the main difference between a body fossil and a trace fossil?

Body fossils are fossilized parts of an organism's body, while trace fossils show the activities of organisms.

Describe the process of permineralization in fossil formation.

Water seeps into organic material, depositing minerals in empty spaces. The organic material breaks down, leaving the minerals which harden into a fossil.

Why are fossils most commonly found in sedimentary rocks rather than igneous or metamorphic rocks?

The processes that form igneous and metamorphic rocks are likely to destroy organic materials, while sedimentary rocks form in a way that preserves them.

Give an example of what scientists can learn from trace fossils that they might not be able to learn from body fossils.

Trace fossils can reveal information about an organism's behavior, such as how it moved, what it ate, or how it cared for its young.

A scientist discovers a fossilized footprint. What type of fossil is this, and what can it tell the scientist about the animal?

This is a trace fossil. It can tell the scientist about the animal's size, weight, how it moved, and potentially if it lived in a group.

Fossils as Evidence of Past Life

Grade 6th Grade · Science · 45 min· Ngss Ms-ess1-4

What's Included

Learning Objective

I can describe how fossils provide evidence of past life and environments.

Warm-Up Video

Miacademy & MiaPrep Learning Channel · 9:24

Fossils - How Fossils Form

Guided Notes

3 key concepts

1
Fossils are the preserved evidence of living things from long ago and can be formed through permineralization or by leaving an impression in rock.
2
Body fossils are fossilized parts of ancient living things, while trace fossils show the activities of organisms from long ago, such as footprints or nests.
3
Fossils are invaluable to Earth scientists because they offer a glimpse into our planet's history, revealing information about past climates, crustal shifts, and major geologic events.

Practice Questions

8 questions · Multiple choice & Short answer

Exit Ticket

Quick comprehension check

“Explain how finding a fossil of a sea creature in a desert could tell us about the past environment of that area.”

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Fossils as Evidence of Past Life

What's Included

Learning Objective

Warm-Up Video

Guided Notes

Practice Questions

Exit Ticket

Complete Lesson Package

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