Give an example of what scientists can learn from trace fossils that they might not be able to learn from body fossils.

Trace fossils can reveal information about an organism's behavior, such as how it moved, what it ate, or how it cared for its young.

A scientist discovers a fossilized footprint. What type of fossil is this, and what can it tell the scientist about the animal?

This is a trace fossil. It can tell the scientist about the animal's size, weight, how it moved, and potentially if it lived in a group.

Fossils as Evidence of Past Life

6th Grade•45 minutes•NGSS MS-ESS1-4

Learning Objective

I can describe how fossils provide evidence of past life and environments.

Key Concepts

Fossils are the preserved evidence of living things from long ago and can be formed through permineralization or by leaving an impression in rock.

Body fossils are fossilized parts of ancient living things, while trace fossils show the activities of organisms from long ago, such as footprints or nests.

Fossils are invaluable to Earth scientists because they offer a glimpse into our planet's history, revealing information about past climates, crustal shifts, and major geologic events.

Practice Questions

This lesson includes 8 practice questions to reinforce learning.

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1. What is the main difference between a body fossil and a trace fossil?

2. Describe the process of permineralization in fossil formation.

3. Why are fossils most commonly found in sedimentary rocks rather than igneous or metamorphic rocks?

...and 5 more questions

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Fossils - How Fossils Form

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