FOSSILS

n on -f i ct ion passages& act iv i t i es

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Fossil ObservationsDirections: Choose 4 fossils from your classroom collection. If you do not have actual fossils then use pictures of fossils. After you

touch and observe each fossil, write a description of each fossil. Describe patterns, lines, textures, colors, and anything else you notice about the fossil. Then, determine the type of fossil. Is it a trace, cast, mold, or body fossil?

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Fossil Description Fossil Type

1

2

3

4

Compare & ContrastDirections: Choose 2 fossils then use the Venn Diagram to compare and contrast them.

Fossil A Fossil B

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Multiplication with FossilsUse the fossil groups or arrays below to create and solve each multiplication equation.

1.

X =

2.

X =

3.

X =

5.

X =

4.

X =

6.

X =

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Name: Date:

Multiplication with Fossils – Answer KeyUse the fossil groups or arrays below to create and solve each multiplication equation.

1.

X =

2.

X =

3.

X =

5.

X =

4.

X =

6.

X =

2 3 6 4 7 28

5 5 25 8 3 24

3 4 12 6 4 24

©The Campbell Connection

4 Square Flip Book

Tips:

1. Print the following two slides double sided. 2. If printing straight from Chrome the dotted lines will not print. Save the

document first then open from the file and print.3. Have students glue flip book to construction paper as an added bonus

to possibly display in the hall.

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Name:

4 Square Flip Book

Fold on the solid line. Cut on the doted line.

Describe how each type of fossil is

formed on the inside flaps.

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Cast fossil

mold fossil

Trace fossil

body fossil

©The Campbell Connection

Fossil Discovery!Imagine you are a paleontologist on a fossil digging expedition. While on this expedition, you discover a

fossil. Tell a story describing your fossil expedition and all about the fossil you discovered. Use this graphic organizer to plan out your narrative.

Name: Date:

Topic Sentence

Supporting Details

Conclusion

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Name: Date:

Fossil Discovery!

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Fossil Process Cut & Paste How does a fossil form? Cut out the images on the second page and match them with the correct step in the

fossilization process.

Name: Date:

1. Organism dies and fossilization process begins.

2. Organism is buried with layers of sediment.

3. Under layers of sediment, the organism’s soft parts begin to decay, leaving only the hard

parts behind.

4. The sediment around the remains of the organism begin to harden and form a rock.

The hard parts of the organism fossilize.

©The Campbell Connection

©The Campbell Connection

Discover the Past

Name: Date:

Directions: Read the passage and answer the comprehension questions.

When most people hear the word fossil they think of dinosaurs. It is true that the discovery of dinosaur fossils taught us that these animals once roamed the earth. However, fossils are not just linked to dinosaurs. A fossil is the remnants of any plant or animal that has been preserved in the earth’s crust over time. Teeth and bones are the most common fossils that are typically found, but you can find fossilized foot prints and shells as well. All organisms have the possibility to one day become a fossil, under the right conditions.

How does an organism become fossilized? Typically an animal dies and over time is covered with layers of sediment. The layers of sediment create a protective cover for the animal’s bones. Eventually the soft parts of the animal decay and become part of the soil leaving just the bones and other hard parts, such as teeth, behind. These hard parts then become fossilized. Through erosion the animal’s fossilized remains become exposed or paleontologists on a dig could discover the fossils.

There are other types of fossilization that are a little bit more unique. Insects can get trapped in a sticky material known as sap. Sap is a sticky substance that comes out of certain trees. An insect flies

into this gummy material and becomes trapped. The sap ultimately hardens and is known as amber. Wooly mammoths are an extinct animal that once roamed our earth.

Paleontologists have discovered fossilized remains of this creature in two very unbelievable ways. First, this animal has been found fossilized in tar. Scientists believed that mammoths would be on the hunt for water when they came across a tar pit. The large animal would get trapped and stuck in the tar and die. The tar would then soak into the mammoth’s bones and stop them from decaying. Woolly mammoths also lived in very cold regions long ago. It would get so cold that the mammoth would freeze to death and become covered in ice. The ice would preserve the mammoth completely, even its hair!

Lexile Measure®: 940L “Discover the Past”Word Count: 392 ©The Campbell Connection1

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Fossils are a very interesting part of the past. They form in very unique ways under very specific conditions. It takes paleontologists a long time to find fossils because not every organism turns into a fossil and the ones that do are buried deep below the earth’s surface.

“Discover the Past”©The Campbell Connection

1. According to the passage, what does the word discovery mean?

a. to find fossilsb. to create fossilsc. the process of fossils decayingd. to learn about dinosaurs

It is true that the discovery of dinosaur fossils taught us that these animals once roamed the earth.

2. What is the main idea of this reading?a. That every plant or animal becomes a fossil over time. b. There are many ways organisms can become fossils, but it takes very

specific circumstances for fossilization to occur. c. Woolly mammoths are the only fossilized creatures.d. Fossils are created through the process of tree sap hardening into a

material called amber.

3. Which types of fossils are most commonly found by paleontologists? a. mold and teethb. imprints and shellsc. teeth and bonesd. amber and tar

4. Based on the following sentence, what does remnants mean?

a. soft partsb. decayed remainsc. furd. rock

A fossil is the remnants of any plant or animal that has been preserved in the earth’s crust over time.

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5. In your own words, explain how a plant or animal can become a fossil. Use complete sentences.

6. During the fossilization process, which event happens right after the layers of sediment create a protective cover for the animals bones?

a. Typically an animal dies and over time is covered with layers of sediment.

b. Through erosion the animal’s fossilized remains become exposed or paleontologists on a dig could discover the fossils.

c. These hard parts then become fossilized.d. Eventually the soft parts of the animal decay and become part of the

soil leaving just the bones and other hard parts, such as teeth, behind.

7. What are the three unique types of fossils that can form?

8. When tree sap hardens, it is known as .a. tarb. amberc. fossild. ice

9. How does a woolly mammoth getting frozen in ice affect the animal?a. It completely preserves the animal. b. The animal looses all of its fur.c. The soft parts of the animal decay leaving only the bones and teeth.d. Nothing happens to the mammoth.

“Discover the Past”©The Campbell Connection

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10. If woolly mammoths are extinct how do we know they once lived on our earth? Explain.

“Discover the Past”©The Campbell Connection

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1. According to the passage, what does the word discovery mean?

a. to find fossilsb. to create fossilsc. the process of fossils decayingd. to learn about dinosaurs

It is true that the discovery of dinosaur fossils taught us that these animals once roamed the earth.

2. What is the main idea of this reading?a. That every plant or animal becomes a fossil over time. b. There are many ways organisms can become fossils, but it takes very

specific circumstances for fossilization to occur. c. Woolly mammoths are the only fossilized creatures.d. Fossils are created through the process of tree sap hardening into a

material called amber.

3. Which types of fossils are most commonly found by paleontologists? a. mold and teethb. imprints and shellsc. teeth and bonesd. amber and tar

4. Based on the following sentence, what does remnants mean?

a. soft partsb. leftover piecec. furd. rock

A fossil is the remnants of any plant or animal that has been preserved in the earth’s crust over time.

Discover the Past – Answer Key

“Discover the Past”©The Campbell Connection

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5. In your own words, explain how a plant or animal can become a fossil. Use complete sentences.

6. During the fossilization process, which event happens right after the layers of sediment create a protective cover for the animals bones?

a. Typically an animal dies and over time is covered with layers of sediment.

b. Through erosion the animal’s fossilized remains become exposed or paleontologists on a dig could discover the fossils.

c. These hard parts then become fossilized.d. Eventually the soft parts of the animal decay and become part of the

soil leaving just the bones and other hard parts, such as teeth, behind.

8. When tree sap hardens, it is known as .a. tarb. amberc. fossild. ice

9. How does a woolly mammoth getting frozen in ice affect the animal?a. It completely preserves the animal. b. The animal looses all of its fur.c. The soft parts of the animal decay leaving only the bones and teeth.d. Nothing happens to the mammoth.

Answers may vary: Fossilization occurs when a plant or animal dies. Over time they are covered with sediment. Eventually the soft parts decay and

the hard parts are left to create the fossil.

7. What are the three unique types of fossils that can form?

amber frozen in ice tar

“Discover the Past”©The Campbell Connection

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10. If woolly mammoths are extinct how do we know they once lived on our earth? Explain.

Answers may vary: Scientists have found woolly mammoths completely preserved in ice which shows us that they once existed.

“Discover the Past”©The Campbell Connection

Name: Date:

How do scientists know that dinosaurs once roamed the earth? How do they know that a tyrannosaurus rex had such sharp teeth and was one of the largest meat eating dinosaurs that ever lived? How do paleontologists know that certain deserts used to be bodies of water with a lot of trees and other vegetation? To answer these questions is simple - fossils! Fossils tell unique stories. They show us if an animal had wings or fins. Fossils can tell us how long ago an organism lived based on how deep it is buried in the earth’s crust. If fossils did not exist then we would not know about the plants and animals that came before us.

If fossils are so fantastic then why are they not all around us? Not every plant or animal that dies becomes a fossil. It takes very special conditions for the creation of a fossil to take place. There are four main types of fossils that can be found: a cast, mold, trace, and body fossil. All of these types of fossils are formed in their own single way and tell a different story about the past.

Mold fossils are formed when an organism, such as a plant or animal, dies and is buried under layers and layers of sediment. Over time the sediment

hardens, turning to rock around the hard parts of the organism. In time water seeps into the rock and breaks down the leftover hard parts of the organism, leaving an imprint of the plant or animal in the rock.

Cast fossils are a mold fossil’s partner in crime. A cast fossil would not exist without a mold fossil. Once a mold fossil forms, it can fill with different minerals and mud. Over time this mineral mixture hardens and become a cast fossil. The cast fossil takes the shape of the once living organism.

Another type of fossil is the trace fossil. A trace fossil is not the preserved remains of an animal, but clues that an animal leaves behind. Trace fossils are a fossil of the animal’s footprints, burrows, or tracks left behind. Trace fossils show us the animal’s activity, not the actual animal itself.

Lexile Measure®: 960L “Fantastic Fossils!”Word Count: 471 ©The Campbell Connection1

Fantastic Fossils!Directions: Read the passage and answer the comprehension questions.

The last major type of fossil is a body fossil also known as a true form fossil. Body fossils are the remains of an entire organism. They show scientists what a plant or animal actually looked like. Examples of body fossils could be an animal skeleton, and animals preserved in tar, ice, or amber are also types of body fossils.

Without fossils we would not know a lot about our earth’s history. The plants and animals that were here before us would all be a mystery. Next time you see a fossil in your classroom or in a museum, imagine the story it tells about the past.

2

1. How do scientists know extinct animals and plants once existed?a. vegetation c. fossilsb. organisms d. seeps

2. According to the passage, what does the word vegetation mean?

a. dry dusty c. plant lifeb. empty with no life d. full of salt water

How do paleontologists know that certain deserts used to be bodies of water with a lot of trees and other vegetation?

3. Can a fossil tell us how long ago an organism lived? Explain.

4. Not every organism that ever lived goes through the fossilization process. How many major types of fossils are there?

a. 1 c. 3b. 2 d. 4

5. Which type of fossil forms after a mold fossil has already been created? This type of fossil is formed when mud and minerals seep into the mold fossil, creating an imprint of the once living thing.

a. mold c. castb. body d. trace

“Fantastic Fossils!”©The Campbell Connection

3

6. What are examples of a trace fossil?

7. Based on the following sentence, what does seep mean?

a. break apart the rock c. stops the fossil from formingb. form a fossil d. slowly leak through the

cracks of the rock

In time water seeps into the rock and breaks down the leftover hard parts of the organism, leaving an imprint of the plant or animal in the rock.

9. A body fossil is also referred to as a ?a. true form fossil c. mold fossilb. trace fossil d. cast fossil

10 Which sentence best describes this passage?a. Fossils are still a mystery to scientists.b. Fossils tell us everything we know about the past. c. Fossils teach us a lot about the past and there are many different

ways they are created. d. Most of what we know about fossils are just guesses and

scientists still have a lot to learn.

8. This type of fossil shows clues that the animal leaves behind. Which type of fossil is this?

a. mold c. castb. body d. trace

“Fantastic Fossils!”©The Campbell Connection

2

1. How do scientists know extinct animals and plants once existed?a. vegetation c. fossilsb. organisms d. seeps

2. According to the passage, what does the word vegetation mean?

a. dry dusty c. plant lifeb. empty with no life d. full of salt water

How do paleontologists know that certain deserts used to be bodies of water with a lot of trees and other vegetation?

3. Can a fossil tell us how long ago an organism lived? Explain.

4. Not every organism that ever lived goes through the fossilization process. How many major types of fossils are there?

a. 1 c. 3b. 2 d. 4

5. Which type of fossil forms after a mold fossil has already been created? This type of fossil is formed when mud and minerals seep into the mold fossil, creating an imprint of the once living thing.

a. mold c. castb. body d. trace

Fantastic Fossils – Answer Key

Answers may vary: Yes, depending on how deep the fossil is buried in the soil, scientists can determine how old it is.

“Fantastic Fossils!”©The Campbell Connection

3

7. Based on the following sentence, what does seep mean?

a. break apart the rock c. stops the fossil from formingb. form a fossil d. slowly leak through the

cracks of the rock

In time water seeps into the rock and breaks down the leftover hard parts of the organism, leaving an imprint of the plant or animal in the rock.

8. This type of fossil shows clues that the animal leaves behind. Which type of fossil is this?

a. mold c. castb. body d. trace

9. A body fossil is also referred to as a ?a. true form fossil c. mold fossilb. trace fossil d. cast fossil

10 Which sentence best describes this passage?a. Fossils are still a mystery to scientists.b. Fossils tell us everything we know about the past. c. Fossils teach us a lot about the past and there are many different

ways they are created. d. Most of what we know about fossils are just guesses and

scientists still have a lot to learn.

6. What are examples of a trace fossil?

animals footprints, and burrows

“Fantastic Fossils!”©The Campbell Connection

Fossils Quiz

Name: Date:

MatchingMatch each term to the correct definition or statement by writing the correct

letter of each word on the line.

1

1. An empty hollowed out space in a rock that once contained an organism such as a plant or animal.

2. An animal footprint is an example of this type of fossil.

3. Most fossils are found in this type of rock.

4. Hardened tree sap

5. Minerals poor into a cavity were an organism once was. Those minerals harden and take the shape of the once living thing.

6. A few woolly mammoths have been found completely preserved, even down to the hair on their bodies!

7. A complete animal skeleton

A. sedimentary

B. amber

C. body fossil

D. mold fossil

E ice

F. trace fossil

G. cast fossil

©The Campbell Connection

2

SequenceHow is a fossil formed? Place a number (1-6) beside each sentence to put the

events in sequence order.

8. ______ Skin rots away and its bones are covered by mud or sand.9. ______ The dinosaur dies and sinks into a river or swamp.10. ______ A dinosaur fossil is found.11. ______ The mud or sand and bones turn to stone.12. ______ Scientists study the fossil.13. ______ The dinosaur is hidden for millions of years.

Short AnswerAnswer each question in complete sentences using the lines below.

14. What do you imagine would have been the outcome if fossils did not exist?

15. Why are most fossils found in sedimentary rocks? Explain.

©The Campbell Connection

A. sedimentary

B. amber

C. body fossil

D. mold fossil

E ice

F. trace fossil

G. cast fossil

Fossils Quiz – Answer Key

Name: Date:

MatchingMatch each term to the correct definition or statement by writing the correct

letter of each word on the line.

1

1. D An empty hollowed out space in a rock that once contained an organism such as a plant or animal.

2. F An animal footprint is an example of this type of fossil.

3. A Most fossils are found in this type of rock.

4. B Hardened tree sap

5. G Minerals poor into a cavity were an organism once was. Those minerals harden and take the shape of the once living thing.

6. E A few woolly mammoths have been found completely preserved, even down to the hair on their bodies!

7. C A complete animal skeleton

©The Campbell Connection

2

SequenceHow is a fossil formed? Place a number (1-6) beside each sentence to put the

events in sequence order.

8. ___2___ Skin rots away and its bones are covered by mud or sand.9. ___1___ The dinosaur dies and sinks into a river or swamp.10. ___5___ A dinosaur fossil is found.11. ___3___ The mud or sand and bones turn to stone.12. ___6___ Scientists study the fossil.13. ___4___ The dinosaur is hidden for millions of years.

Short AnswerAnswer each question in complete sentences using the lines below.

14. What do you imagine would have been the outcome if fossils did not exist?Answers may vary: Read students answers and use teacher discretion.

15. Why are most fossils found in sedimentary rocks? Explain.Answers may vary: Read students answers and use teacher discretion.

©The Campbell Connection

Fossils Test

Name: Date:

Read and answer each question.

1. Which type of rock are most fossils found in?a. igneousb. sedimentaryc. metamorphicd. mold

2. What can we learn from studying fossils?a. What time period plants and animals existed.b. Which types of food animals may have eaten. c. That certain plants and animals no longer exist on our planet. d. all of the above

3. What is the fossil called when an organism decays and leaves a hollow space in a rock?

a. cast b. mold c. body d. trace

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4. What is amber and how does this type of fossil form?

5. Animals often leave clues behind that teach scientists more about their habits and activities. Which type of fossil does this describe?

a. trace b. mold c. cast d. body

©The Campbell Connection

6. True or False: Fossils tell us what the weather was like in the past?

7. A paleontologist is doing research in a rocky mountain area. They find a fish fossil. What does this fish fossil tell the paleontologist about this area?

9. What can become a fossil?a. plantsb. animalsc. shellsd. all of the above

2

8. If a scientist finds a complete dinosaur skeleton, which type of fossil have they found?

a. trace b. cast c. body d. mold

Copyright © 2015 Melissa K Campbell

10. There have been a few woolly mammoths found completely preserved and fossilized including their fur! How were these mammoths most likely fossilized?

a. tar b. amber c. body d. ice

11. Which scientist is an expert in studying fossils?a. geologistb. paleontologistc. geometryologistd. geographer

©The Campbell Connection

12. What is this a fossil of ?

a. fish b. skeleton c. footprints d. burrow

3

13. Which fossil belongs with the group of fossils below?

a. c.

b. d.

15. What is shown in the amber fossil below?

a. leaf b. shell c. insect d. bone

14. Which of the following best describes a fossil?a. a volcanic rockb. an imprint of a leafc. a rock that has been eroded d. a crab in a sea shell

16. There are plants and animals that are extinct and we know this because of fossils. Explain what extinct means.

©The Campbell Connection

4

17. Which of the following statements is true?a. Fossils of bones, teeth, shells, and animal tracks teach us about

things that lived long ago. b. Only bones teach us about organisms that lived long ago. c. Extinct animals are the only organisms that formed fossils.d. We cannot learn anything from shell fossils.

18. A scientist finds two different fossils of different types of organisms buried near each other. Which of the following is most likely true?

a. The organisms ate the same food. b. One organism is larger than the other organism. c. The organisms lived in different habitats. d. The organisms lived during the same time period.

19. Which of the following statements is not true?a. Fossils teach us about the pastb. Fossils only teach us about plantsc. Fossils are mostly formed in sedimentary rocks. d. There is more than one type of fossil.

20. Why are scientists so interested in discovering fossils and what can we learn from them?

©The Campbell Connection

Fossils Test – Answer Key

Name: Date:

Read and answer each question.

1. Which type of rock are most fossils found in?a. igneousb. sedimentaryc. metamorphicd. mold

1

2. What can we learn from studying fossils?a. What time period plants and animals existed.b. Which types of food animals may have eaten. c. That certain plants and animals no longer exist on our planet. d. all of the above

3. What is the fossil called when an organism decays and leaves a hollow space in a rock?

a. cast b. mold c. body d. trace

4. What is amber and how does this type of fossil form?

5. Animals often leave clues behind that teach scientists more about their habits and activities. Which type of fossil does this describe?

a. trace b. mold c. cast d. body

Answers may vary: Amber is hardened tree sap. Sap seeps out of trees and insects will get caught in it. Then the amber hardens preserving the insect.

©The Campbell Connection

6. True or False: Fossils tell us what the weather was like in the past?

7. A paleontologist is doing research in a rocky mountain area. They find a fish fossil. What does this fish fossil tell the paleontologist about this area?

9. What can become a fossil?a. plantsb. animalsc. shellsd. all of the above

2

8. If a scientist finds a complete dinosaur skeleton, which type of fossil have they found?

a. trace b. cast c. body d. mold

10. There have been a few woolly mammoths found completely preserved and fossilized including their fur! How were these mammoths most likely fossilized?

a. tar b. amber c. body d. ice

11. Which scientist is an expert in studying fossils?a. geologistb. paleontologistc. geometryologistd. geographer

False

Answers may vary: The fish fossil shows that there used to be a body of water in the area.

©The Campbell Connection

12. What is this a fossil of ?

a. fish b. skeleton c. footprints d. burrow

14. Which of the following best describes a fossil?a. a volcanic rockb. an imprint of a leafc. a rock that has been eroded d. a crab in a sea shell

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13. Which fossil belongs with the group of fossils below?

a. c.

b. d.

15. What is shown in the amber fossil below?

a. leaf b. shell c. insect d. bone

16. There are plants and animals that are extinct and we know this because of fossils. Explain what extinct means.

Answers may vary: No longer existing on earth.

©The Campbell Connection

4

17. Which of the following statements is true?a. Fossils of bones, teeth, shells, and animal tracks teach us about

things that lived long ago. b. Only bones teach us about organisms that lived long ago. c. Extinct animals are the only organisms that formed fossils.d. We cannot learn anything from shell fossils.

18. A scientist finds two different fossils of different types of organisms buried near each other. Which of the following is most likely true?

a. The organisms ate the same food. b. One organism is larger than the other organism. c. The organisms lived in different habitats. d. The organisms lived during the same time period.

20. Why are scientists so interested in discovering fossils and what can we learn from them?

19. Which of the following statements is not true?a. Fossils teach us about the pastb. Fossils only teach us about plantsc. Fossils are mostly formed in sedimentary rocks. d. There is more than one type of fossil.

Answers may vary: Scientists want to discover as many fossils as they can because they teach us a lot about different organisms that used to exist and still exist. They teach us how the animals lived, and what they looked like. They teach that certain plants and animals existed that no longer do. etc.

©The Campbell Connection