What do these pictures have in common?

Where are we headed? Essential Questions What can we learn from the stories fossils can tell? How are fossils formed?

What are fossils? Fossils are the preserved remains of a plant or animal that lived long ago.

What are fossils used for? Scientists study fossils found in Earth’s rocks to find out what Earth was like long ago. Who are those people? Paleontologists

How do some fossils form? Plants and animals die and are buried in soil. Soft parts decay (break down). Hard parts are replaced by minerals and become rock.

What did these animals eat? Fossil Teeth What did these animals eat? Blunt teeth=Mastodon Sharp tooth=Shark

Where did they go? Some plants and animals no longer exist on the Earth. What does that mean? They are extinct, but paleontologists can study fossils for clues about CHANGES since then – bodies, Earth, environment