Fossils & the Fossil Record (Geology link)
👩🏫 Teacher’s Guide
Objective
Identify types of fossils and explain how rock layers reveal Earth’s past.
Vocabulary
- — Remains or marks of past life
- — Sand/soil that forms layers
- — Mineral copy of an organism
- — Hollow shape left in rock
- — Evidence like footprints
Teaching Notes
Layered clay to model strata; place 'fossils' in layers; connect to continents moving.
Answer Key
Trace fossils show behavior; older fossils are usually deeper.
Extension Ideas
Local/state fossil mini‑report with drawing and two facts.
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🧒 Student Worksheet
Concept and Helping Material
Fossils tell us about life long ago. Rock layers act like pages of a book. Deeper pages are older.
Words to Learn
- A footprint is a ___ fossil.
- A rock copy of a shell is a ___.
- The hollow shell shape is a ___.
Sentences to Fill In
- Order the layers from oldest to youngest: A (top), B (middle), C (bottom).
Hands-On Experiment — Make a Plaster Fossil
What You Need
plaster of Paris, leaves/shells, jelly, cardboard
What You Do
Coat object, pour plaster, press, dry, remove to reveal impression.
Reflection
- How do fossils teach us about past environments? (Answer may vary.)
- Why might sea fossils appear on mountains? (Answer may vary.)