Science​​: Fossils

Fossils are evidence of living organisms from the past and are usually preserved in sedimentary rocks. A fossil may be an impression left in sediments, the preserved remains of an organism, or a trace mark showing that an organism once existed. Fossils are usually made from the hard parts of an organism because soft parts decay quickly. Fossils provide clues to Earth's history. They provide evidence that can be used to make inferences about past environments. Fossils can be compared to one another, to living organisms, and to organisms that lived long ago. 
​Standard 4: Students will understand how fossils are formed, where they may be found in Utah, and how they can be used to make inferences.

Objective 1: Describe Utah fossils and explain how they were formed.
  • Identify features of fossils that can be used to compare them to living organisms that are familiar (e.g., shape, size and structure of skeleton, patterns of leaves).
  • Describe three ways fossils are formed in sedimentary rock (i.e., preserved organisms, mineral replacement of organisms, impressions or tracks).
  • Research locations where fossils are found in Utah and construct a simple fossil map.

Objective 2: Explain how fossils can be used to make inferences about past life, climate, geology, and environments.
  • Explain why fossils are usually found in sedimentary rock.
  • Based on the fossils found in various locations, infer how Utah environments have changed over time (e.g., trilobite fossils indicate that Millard County was once covered by a large shallow ocean; dinosaur fossils and coal indicate that Emery and Uintah County were once tropical and swampy).
  • Research information on two scientific explanations for the extinction of dinosaurs and other prehistoric organisms.
  • Formulate questions that can be answered using information gathered on the extinction of dinosaurs. 

Assignments

Assignment 1: ​Research Quest, What dinosaur did these bones come from?
Research Quest Investigation Login here; Access Code: aFP77jNG

Assignment 2: What killed the dinosaurs?
What happened to the dinosaurs?
Read PBS Extinction
National Geographic Dinosaur Extinction

Resources