Do Now How do scientist know that different kinds of plants and animals lived in Earth’s past? What is a fossil?

Objective I will be able to describe how different fossils are formed.

What is a fossil? Are the preserved remains or traces of living things that provide evidence of how life and Earth’s surface has changed over time

Fossil Flow Chart

How are fossils formed? Most fossils form when living things die and are buried by sediments. The sediments slowly harden into rock and preserve the shapes of the organisms. The remains or traces of an organism must be protected from decay

Petrified fossils Water rich in dissolved minerals seeped into spaces in the plant cells and then evaporated leaving hardened minerals behind.

Molds and Casts Mold – A hollow area in sediment in the shape of the organism – Forms when the hard part of the organism is buried in sediment Casts – Later water carrying minerals and sediment may seep into the empty space of a mold--resulting in a cast – Is a copy of the shape of an organism

Carbon fossil All living things contain carbon When sediment buries an organism some of the material turns to gas. The gas escapes from the sediment leaving a thin film of carbon Can preserve the delicate parts of plant leaves and insects.

Trace fossils Provide evidence of the activities of organisms Provide clues about an animals size and behaviors Ex. Fossilized footprints

Preserved remains Preserve remains with little or no change to the organism Ex. Trapped in tar, preserved in amber, freezing

A Fossil’s Story Directions: On a sheet of paper, write a story about fossilization from the point-of-view of the organism. The following items should be included: 1.Type of organism: give a detailed description 2.How the organism died 3.Where did they die: the surrounding environment 4.How were they fossilized: include the process they went through. 5.What type of fossil did they turn into 6.Who found them and what did that person think of the fossil

Objective I will be able to describe how different fossils are formed.

Exit Ticket Make a list of the different types of fossils. What is the difference between a mold fossil and a cast fossil? What is the difference between a petrified fossil and a preserved remains?

Homework

ACT Prep John is faster than Pete. Dave is faster than Harvey. Dave is slower than Pete. Which man is fastest and which is slowest? If Bob and Fred are both taller than Tom, while Hal is taller than Bob but shorter than Fred, which man is tallest and which is second tallest?