Fossils are fascinating clues to what life was like on Earth millions of years ago. Read the passage below to learn about how body fossils are made. If you would like a printable version with comprehension questions and other classroom activities, you can get it at Teachers Pay Teachers.
Fossils are the remains of prehistoric plants and animals. Not all plants and animals become fossils.
Most creatures on Earth do not become fossils. This is because it is very difficult to become a fossil. First, the creature must die in or near water. Second, the bones of the creature cannot be disturbed. Since most animals are eaten when they die, this doesn’t happen very often.
Next, sediments must cover the creature. Sediments are small pieces of rock and other materials. An example of a sediment is sand. These sediments pile up until the original creature is far underground. This can take millions of years.
Eventually, water will seep through the sediments. Dissolved minerals are in the water. The water dissolves the bones and other hard parts of the creature. Then, the minerals replace the bones and hard parts. This makes a copy of the creature that is as strong as a rock.
Over time, the sediments around the creature will become sedimentary rock. If it isn’t disturbed, the sedimentary rock will stay in place for millions of years. Slowly, the rock above the creature is weathered and eroded away. Weathering is the process of breaking down rock into smaller pieces. Water and wind are two things that weather rocks. Erosion is the process of moving sediments from one place to another. Rock can be eroded, or moved, by wind and water.
Once enough rock is weathered and eroded, a part of the fossil may become visible. A paleontologist, a scientist who studies fossils, will carefully dig out the rest of the fossil. He or she will try to put the bones of the fossil back together to recreate the skeleton of the creature who died. The bones of the fossil can tell scientists a lot about the creature who died and the world it lived in long ago.
How Body Fossils Are Made Videos
Fossil Flashcards
Flashcards are the best way to help students remember what they learned about fossils. You can get them at Teachers Pay Teachers, or you can use them on this website for free.
Fossils Activity
You can help your students learn about fossils independently or in small groups with these interactive pages! You can get it at Teachers Pay Teachers.
The Geosphere
Middle School Science
Related Posts
