Reading For Meaning814: Compare fossils found in sedimentary rock to

determine their relative age.

STEP 1: On your “Reading for meaning record sheet,” place your name in the upper right corner.

STEP 2: On your “Reading for meaning record sheet,” record whether or not you agree or disagree with the following statements.

Statement 1: A tooth mark on the bone of dinosaur A is a fossil of its killer dinosaur B.

Statement 2: An animal lays down in the mud. The impression it leaves is preserved but is not considered a fossil.

Statement 3: When comparing fossils to see which is the oldest and which is the youngest is called relative aging.

Statement 4: When reading you may see that a fossil is an exact number of years such as 275 million years old. This is the fossil’s relative age.

Statement 5: Layers of sediment can cover a dead organism. This sediment can be carried by the wind or the water.

Statement 6: When the sediment is compacted and cemented together it becomes igneous rock layers.

Statement 7: Layers of rock closest to the surface are the youngest and layers of rock that are deeper are older.

Statement 8: Birds evolved before turtles since they are found in layers of sedimentary rock that are more shallow than the sedimentary rock that contains turtle fossils.

STEP 3: Read the selection below titled “The Relative Ages of Fossils.” As you read, find evidence in the text that either supports or refutes (opposes) each of the 8 statements above. In doing this you will discover whether you were right or wrong in your original decision. If you were wrong do not go back and change your agree or disagree box. It is OK to be wrong.

STEP 4: Answer each of the following questions in the “Post Reading Question” section of your answer sheet.

Question 1: Explain the different types of fossils and give examples of each.

Question 2: In a flow chart format, tell the steps of fossil formation.

STEP 5: In the “Synthesis” section of your answer sheet, draw sedimentary rock layers containing fossils of your own creation. Beside the rock layers, use arrows to point out and name each of the fossils you have included. Also remember to tell the relative age of each of your fossils. You may want to use the sedimentary rock layers in the reading selection as a guide.