Today, you will be learning all about fossils!  Please read through the instructions so that you'll know exactly what to do.  

Instructions: 

1. Title the next available page in your science notebook as FOSSILS. 

2. Copy the information from section 1 (highlighted in yellow). 

3. Summarize the section titled "How is a Fossil Formed?"

4. Read the section TYPES OF FOSSILS and create and complete a chart like the one provided. 

5. Review the information about INDEX FOSSILS by reading the section.  Add notes on index fossils.

6. Video Lesson - Watch and respond (3-2-1) 

What is a fossil? 

A fossil is the preserved remains of a once-living organism. 

What do fossils tell us? 

• Fossils give clues about organisms that lived long ago

• They also provide evidence about how Earth’s surface has changed over time.

• Fossils help scientists understand what past environments may have been like.

Summarize how fossils are formed. 

Before moving forward, prepare your notebook by reserving a page for this section.  You will read about various types of fossils.  For your notes, you will need to add a description and drawing to represent each type of fossil.    

Be sure to title this section "TYPES OF FOSSILS."

Use the table below as your template for note-taking.  You may want to draw the chart row by row as you read through all of the examples instead of drawing the entire chart first.  You never know exactly how much room you'll need for each type.

Review:  What are index fossils? 

Index fossils are fossils whose absolute age is used as a clue/reference to determine the relative age of other fossils and rock layers.  

Not all fossils are index fossils.  To be considered an index fossil, several criteria must be met.  

1. Must be found on multiple continents around the world. 

2. Must have lived in only one geologic age - meaning it lived a relatively short time. 

3. Must be abundant (lots of them) and easy to recognize. 

Some of the most common index fossils include ammonites and trilobites.