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Fossil facts
Fossils are what's left of ______ and _______that were alive a long
time ago. When the plant or animal ____, part of it was left on the
earth. That part became trapped in the sediments, and the sediments
became _____. Once the rock formed, the fossil was ________ inside.
Some fossils are destroyed because sediments undergo a lot of _____
and _______ when they become rocks, and the heat and pressure
might destroy the fossils. Most fossils are found in ________________.
There are two types of fossils: ___________ and _____________.
Vertebrate fossils come from animals that had ______. Invertebrate
fossils come from plants or animals that ___________________.
Sometimes fossils are parts of bodies like bones and teeth.
Sometimes they are parts of _______. Other times they might be
animal _______.
When a plant or animal leaves a shape, that shape is called a _____. If
mud or minerals fill the mold and harden, that's called a _____. It has
the same shape that the animal or plant had when it was alive. _______
Fossil facts
are molds of thin objects like leaves. Wings and feathers can also
leave imprints because they are very thin.
A fossil isn’t the actual bone or leaf or other object that was left.
Instead, it’s just an object that’s the same _______ as the original item.
It’s made up of various _________ and other material that has
hardened.
We can use fossils to help us learn about the ________ or ______ that
have _____. This kind of study is called ____________. Scientists have
used fossil bones to put together ___________ of dinosaurs and other
animals. We can tell how _______ they were and how they ________ by
looking at the skeletons. The _______ of the fossils show what kinds
of foods they ate. Sharp teeth probably mean the dinosaurs ate _____
(other dinosaurs). Flat teeth probably mean the dinosaurs ate _______.
Why are most fossils found in sedimentary rocks?
Fossil facts
Fossils are what's left of plants and animals that were alive a long time
ago. When the plant or animal died, part of it was left on the earth. That
part became trapped in the sediments, and the sediments became
rock. Once the rock formed, the fossil was trapped inside. Some
fossils are destroyed because sediments undergo a lot of heat and
pressure when they become rocks, and the heat and pressure might
destroy the fossils. Most fossils are found in sedimentary rocks.
There are two types of fossils: vertebrate and invertebrate. Vertebrate
fossils come from animals that had bones. Invertebrate fossils come
from plants or animals that didn't have bones.
Sometimes fossils are parts of bodies like bones and teeth.
Sometimes they are parts of leaves. Other times they might be animal
tracks.
When a plant or animal leaves a shape, that shape is called a mold. If
mud or minerals fill the mold and harden, that's called a cast. It has the
same shape that the animal or plant had when it was alive. Imprints are
Fossil facts
molds of thin objects like leaves. Wings and feathers can also leave
imprints because they are very thin.
A fossil isn’t the actual bone or leaf or other object that was left.
Instead, it’s just an object that’s the same shape as the original item.
It’s made up of various minerals and other material that has hardened.
We can use fossils to help us learn about the animals or plants that
have died. This kind of study is called paleontology. Scientists have
used fossil bones to put together skeletons of dinosaurs and other
animals. We can tell how large they were and how they walked by
looking at the skeletons. The teeth of the fossils show what kinds of
foods they ate. Sharp teeth probably mean the dinosaurs ate meat
(other dinosaurs). Flat teeth probably mean the dinosaurs ate plants.
Why are most fossils found in sedimentary rocks?
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