Studying Earth’s Past
Fossils
Name: ________________________
Date: _______ Pd.:___ Table: ___
Introduction
Geologist can learn about Earth’s past by studying fossils. Fossils offer clues about the evolution of organisms,
in addition to, the changes in the Earth’s surface. Fossils can form in many different ways. In this lesson, you
will explore the latest discoveries of fossils. In addition, you will analyze how different types of fossils form
and explain how fossils provide evidence to support theories that explain how life forms change over time.
Part A. National Geographic Video: Whale Fossils Found in Kitchen Counter
(http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/05/090504-egypt-fossils-video-wc.html)
Question
1. Who discovered the whale fossils in
the kitchen counter?
2. According to the experts, how long
ago did the ancient whale roam the
land?
3. What was the original location of the
whale fossils?
4. Predict why archeologists are finding
marine fossils in the Oasis of
Fayoum, Egypt?
5. What was the significance of the
“Red Stone” found in the quarries in
the Oasis of Fayoum?
Answer
Part B. Fossilization: How Do Fossils Form?
There are many different types of fossilization. Two conditions that favor fossilization are rapid burial and the
possession of hard parts. Like the whale bones found in Egypt, preserved remains are only one type of fossil.
The different types of fossils include molds, casts, carbon films, trace fossils and petrified fossils.
1. What are the six types of types of fossils? ____________, ____________, ____________,
____________, ____________, ____________.
2. It is possible to discover a fully preserved organism? Explain. _________________________
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Discussion Questions:
Read pp. 110-111 in Prentice Hall: Science Explorer: Fossils. Answer the questions below.
1. Which parts of an organism are most likely to be preserved as fossils? ___________________
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2. Contrast the formation of mold and casts. ________________________________________
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3. In nature, what materials normally form a mold of a fossil? ____________________________
4. In nature, what materials normally form a mold of a fossil? ____________________________
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5. . Label the following pictures according to the type of fossil the picture is displaying.
6. Cite two other ways fossils form in nature? _______________________________________
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Application:
7. What type of rock (Igneous, Sedimentary, or Metamorphic) are fossils most commonly found in? Why
are fossils most commonly found in that type of rock, and not the others?
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8.
Suppose you found a rock containing brachiopods. What can you infer about the environment in which
the rock was formed?
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9.
Why do you think organisms such as jelly fish are rarely found fossilized?
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Multiple Choice
Identify the letter of the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
____ 10.
The process by which all the different kinds of living things have changed over long periods of
time is called
a. sedimentation.
b. replacement.
c. deposition.
d. evolution.
____ 11.
What is a fossil?
a. any dead organism
b. the preserved remains or traces of an organism
c. a perfect copy of a rock
d. an unusual type of rock
____ 12.
How do most fossils form?
a. Living things die and their remains are buried by sediments.
b. The hard parts of an organism dry out in the air.
c. The soft parts of an organism change to stone.
d. Freezing preserves the remains of an organism.
____ 13.
A fossil formed when minerals replace all or part of an organism is called a
a. mold.
b. petrified fossil.
c. cast.
d. trace fossil.
____ 14.
Which type of fossil can provide clues about the activities of ancient organisms?
a. trace fossils
b. remains preserved in amber
c. carbon films
d. molds and casts
____ 15.
A type of organism that no longer exists on Earth is said to be
a. fossilized.
b. sedimentary.
c. extinct.
d. petrified.
____ 16.
In which type of fossil might you find the remains of an insect preserved with little or no
change?
a. trace fossil
b. replacement fossil
c. mold
d. fossil in amber
Studying Earth’s Past
Fossils BCR
Name: ______________________
Date: _______ Pd.: ___ Table: __
Directions: Read the BCR prompt below. Record your response in the space provided.
In Jan 1997, construction workers expanding the Los Angeles subway system discovered unexpected
treasures under downtown L.A.—fossils of marine life including starfish, clams and seashells. The fossils
“marked bones of creatures that lived here long ago” reports New York Times journalist, Robyn Meredith.
This impressive discovery offers evidence of that the climate of Los Angeles changed over time. Scientists
report that these fossils are an important find. The fossils will be catalogued and added to the existing
fossil records.
(Meredith, M. (1997, January 5). Angelenos Stumble Upon Path to History. New York Times. Retreived
from http://www.nytimes.com/1997/01/05/us/angelenos-stumble-upon-path-to-history.html?pagewanted=1)
The fossil record is an important tool for geologists as they study Earth’s past. If a scientist were looking
at how the Los Angeles area has changed over time, how would he use the fossil found in that location?
In your response, be sure to…
 Explain what the fossil are
 Cite two examples of fossils
 Explain how fossils indicate how life has changed over time
Write a paragraph with a topic sentence and a closing sentence. (5 points)
1 pointTopic Sentence
3 points
Contrast, Evidence
1 pointClosing sentence
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