Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of ancient tectonics-1?dictionary=stem&did=1005" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1005,'stem');return false;" style="color:#009000;">stem-standards?dictionary=organisms&did=874" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,874,'organisms');return false;" style="color:#009000;">tectonics-1?dictionary=organisms&did=874" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,874,'organisms');return false;" style="color:#009000;">organisms. They provide a window into the past and give us insights into the tectonics-1?dictionary=stem&did=1005" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1005,'stem');return false;" style="color:#009000;">stem-standards?dictionary=history&did=915" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,915,'history');return false;" style="color:#009000;">tectonics-1?dictionary=history&did=915" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,915,'history');return false;" style="color:#009000;">history of tectonics-1?dictionary=stem&did=1005" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1005,'stem');return false;" style="color:#009000;">stem-standards?dictionary=life&did=774" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,774,'life');return false;" style="color:#009000;">tectonics-1?dictionary=life&did=774" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,774,'life');return false;" style="color:#009000;">life on tectonics-1?dictionary=stem&did=1005" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1005,'stem');return false;" style="color:#009000;">stem-standards?dictionary=earth&did=771" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,771,'earth');return false;" style="color:#009000;">tectonics-1?dictionary=earth&did=771" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,771,'earth');return false;" style="color:#009000;">Earth.
Types of Fossils
There are several types of fossils:
Body Fossils: These are the actual remains of an organism, such as tectonics-1?dictionary=stem&did=1005" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1005,'stem');return false;" style="color:#009000;">stem-standards?dictionary=bones&did=1209" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1209,'bones');return false;" style="color:#009000;">tectonics-1?dictionary=bones&did=1209" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1209,'bones');return false;" style="color:#009000;">bones, teeth, and shells.
Trace Fossils: These are evidence of an organism's activity, such as footprints, tectonics-1?dictionary=stem&did=1005" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1005,'stem');return false;" style="color:#009000;">stem-standards?dictionary=burrows&did=2264" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,2264,'burrows');return false;" style="color:#009000;">tectonics-1?dictionary=burrows&did=2264" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,2264,'burrows');return false;" style="color:#009000;">burrows, and coprolites (fossilized feces).
Mold and Cast Fossils: These form when an organism's remains decay and leave a cavity in the tectonics-1?dictionary=stem&did=1005" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1005,'stem');return false;" style="color:#009000;">stem-standards?dictionary=rock&did=792" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,792,'rock');return false;" style="color:#009000;">tectonics-1?dictionary=rock&did=792" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,792,'rock');return false;" style="color:#009000;">rock, which is later filled with tectonics-1?dictionary=stem&did=1005" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1005,'stem');return false;" style="color:#009000;">stem-standards?dictionary=minerals&did=810" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,810,'minerals');return false;" style="color:#009000;">tectonics-1?dictionary=minerals&did=810" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,810,'minerals');return false;" style="color:#009000;">minerals to create a cast of the original organism.
Petrified Fossils: These are formed when the organic tectonics-1?dictionary=stem&did=1005" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1005,'stem');return false;" style="color:#009000;">stem-standards?dictionary=material&did=1131" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1131,'material');return false;" style="color:#009000;">tectonics-1?dictionary=material&did=1131" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1131,'material');return false;" style="color:#009000;">material of an organism is replaced by tectonics-1?dictionary=stem&did=1005" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1005,'stem');return false;" style="color:#009000;">stem-standards?dictionary=minerals&did=810" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,810,'minerals');return false;" style="color:#009000;">tectonics-1?dictionary=minerals&did=810" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,810,'minerals');return false;" style="color:#009000;">minerals, turning the remains into stone.
Formation of Fossils
Fossils are formed through a process called tectonics-1?dictionary=stem&did=1005" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1005,'stem');return false;" style="color:#009000;">stem-standards?dictionary=fossilization&did=1279" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1279,'fossilization');return false;" style="color:#009000;">tectonics-1?dictionary=fossilization&did=1279" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1279,'fossilization');return false;" style="color:#009000;">fossilization, which typically involves the following steps:
Death of the Organism: The organism dies and its remains are buried by sediment.
tectonics-1?dictionary=stem&did=1005" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1005,'stem');return false;" style="color:#009000;">stem-standards?dictionary=decomposition&did=1582" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1582,'decomposition');return false;" style="color:#009000;">tectonics-1?dictionary=decomposition&did=1582" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1582,'decomposition');return false;" style="color:#009000;">Decomposition: Soft tectonics-1?dictionary=stem&did=1005" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1005,'stem');return false;" style="color:#009000;">stem-standards?dictionary=tissues&did=953" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,953,'tissues');return false;" style="color:#009000;">tectonics-1?dictionary=tissues&did=953" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,953,'tissues');return false;" style="color:#009000;">tissues decay and are consumed by tectonics-1?dictionary=stem&did=1005" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1005,'stem');return false;" style="color:#009000;">stem-standards?dictionary=bacteria&did=1067" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1067,'bacteria');return false;" style="color:#009000;">tectonics-1?dictionary=bacteria&did=1067" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1067,'bacteria');return false;" style="color:#009000;">bacteria, leaving behind harder parts like tectonics-1?dictionary=stem&did=1005" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1005,'stem');return false;" style="color:#009000;">stem-standards?dictionary=bones&did=1209" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1209,'bones');return false;" style="color:#009000;">tectonics-1?dictionary=bones&did=1209" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1209,'bones');return false;" style="color:#009000;">bones or shells.
Permineralization:tectonics-1?dictionary=stem&did=1005" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1005,'stem');return false;" style="color:#009000;">stem-standards?dictionary=minerals&did=810" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,810,'minerals');return false;" style="color:#009000;">tectonics-1?dictionary=minerals&did=810" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,810,'minerals');return false;" style="color:#009000;">Minerals in tectonics-1?dictionary=stem&did=1005" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1005,'stem');return false;" style="color:#009000;">stem-standards?dictionary=groundwater&did=805" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,805,'groundwater');return false;" style="color:#009000;">tectonics-1?dictionary=groundwater&did=805" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,805,'groundwater');return false;" style="color:#009000;">groundwater infiltrate the tectonics-1?dictionary=stem&did=1005" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1005,'stem');return false;" style="color:#009000;">stem-standards?dictionary=spaces&did=847" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,847,'space');return false;" style="color:#009000;">tectonics-1?dictionary=spaces&did=847" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,847,'space');return false;" style="color:#009000;">spaces within the remains, gradually replacing the original organic tectonics-1?dictionary=stem&did=1005" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1005,'stem');return false;" style="color:#009000;">stem-standards?dictionary=material&did=1131" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1131,'material');return false;" style="color:#009000;">tectonics-1?dictionary=material&did=1131" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1131,'material');return false;" style="color:#009000;">material with tectonics-1?dictionary=stem&did=1005" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1005,'stem');return false;" style="color:#009000;">stem-standards?dictionary=minerals&did=810" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,810,'minerals');return false;" style="color:#009000;">tectonics-1?dictionary=minerals&did=810" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,810,'minerals');return false;" style="color:#009000;">minerals.
tectonics-1?dictionary=stem&did=1005" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1005,'stem');return false;" style="color:#009000;">stem-standards?dictionary=fossilization&did=1279" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1279,'fossilization');return false;" style="color:#009000;">tectonics-1?dictionary=fossilization&did=1279" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1279,'fossilization');return false;" style="color:#009000;">Fossilization: Over tectonics-1?dictionary=stem&did=1005" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1005,'stem');return false;" style="color:#009000;">stem-standards?dictionary=time&did=924" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,924,'time');return false;" style="color:#009000;">tectonics-1?dictionary=time&did=924" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,924,'time');return false;" style="color:#009000;">time, the tectonics-1?dictionary=stem&did=1005" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1005,'stem');return false;" style="color:#009000;">stem-standards?dictionary=minerals&did=810" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,810,'minerals');return false;" style="color:#009000;">tectonics-1?dictionary=minerals&did=810" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,810,'minerals');return false;" style="color:#009000;">minerals harden, preserving the remains as a fossil.
Importance of Fossils
Fossils are important for several reasons:
They provide evidence for tectonics-1?dictionary=stem&did=1005" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1005,'stem');return false;" style="color:#009000;">stem-standards?dictionary=evolution&did=888" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,888,'evolution');return false;" style="color:#009000;">tectonics-1?dictionary=evolution&did=888" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,888,'evolution');return false;" style="color:#009000;">evolution and the tectonics-1?dictionary=stem&did=1005" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1005,'stem');return false;" style="color:#009000;">stem-standards?dictionary=history&did=915" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,915,'history');return false;" style="color:#009000;">tectonics-1?dictionary=history&did=915" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,915,'history');return false;" style="color:#009000;">history of tectonics-1?dictionary=stem&did=1005" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1005,'stem');return false;" style="color:#009000;">stem-standards?dictionary=life&did=774" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,774,'life');return false;" style="color:#009000;">tectonics-1?dictionary=life&did=774" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,774,'life');return false;" style="color:#009000;">life on tectonics-1?dictionary=stem&did=1005" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1005,'stem');return false;" style="color:#009000;">stem-standards?dictionary=earth&did=771" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,771,'earth');return false;" style="color:#009000;">tectonics-1?dictionary=earth&did=771" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,771,'earth');return false;" style="color:#009000;">Earth.
They help scientists understand ancient tectonics-1?dictionary=stem&did=1005" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1005,'stem');return false;" style="color:#009000;">stem-standards?dictionary=environments&did=923" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,923,'environment');return false;" style="color:#009000;">tectonics-1?dictionary=environments&did=923" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,923,'environment');return false;" style="color:#009000;">environments and tectonics-1?dictionary=stem&did=1005" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1005,'stem');return false;" style="color:#009000;">stem-standards?dictionary=ecosystems&did=780" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,780,'ecosystems');return false;" style="color:#009000;">tectonics-1?dictionary=ecosystems&did=780" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,780,'ecosystems');return false;" style="color:#009000;">ecosystems.
They can be used to date tectonics-1?dictionary=stem&did=1005" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1005,'stem');return false;" style="color:#009000;">stem-standards?dictionary=rock&did=792" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,792,'rock');return false;" style="color:#009000;">tectonics-1?dictionary=rock&did=792" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,792,'rock');return false;" style="color:#009000;">rock layers and determine the relative ages of different tectonics-1?dictionary=stem&did=1005" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1005,'stem');return false;" style="color:#009000;">stem-standards?dictionary=geological+formations&did=2182" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,2182,'geological formations');return false;" style="color:#009000;">tectonics-1?dictionary=geological+formations&did=2182" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,2182,'geological formations');return false;" style="color:#009000;">geological formations.
They contribute to our understanding of extinction events and the factors that have shaped the tectonics-1?dictionary=stem&did=1005" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1005,'stem');return false;" style="color:#009000;">stem-standards?dictionary=diversity&did=2213" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,2213,'diversity');return false;" style="color:#009000;">tectonics-1?dictionary=diversity&did=2213" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,2213,'diversity');return false;" style="color:#009000;">diversity of tectonics-1?dictionary=stem&did=1005" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1005,'stem');return false;" style="color:#009000;">stem-standards?dictionary=life&did=774" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,774,'life');return false;" style="color:#009000;">tectonics-1?dictionary=life&did=774" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,774,'life');return false;" style="color:#009000;">life over tectonics-1?dictionary=stem&did=1005" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1005,'stem');return false;" style="color:#009000;">stem-standards?dictionary=time&did=924" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,924,'time');return false;" style="color:#009000;">tectonics-1?dictionary=time&did=924" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,924,'time');return false;" style="color:#009000;">time.
Studying Fossils
To study fossils, scientists use a variety of techniques, including:
Fossil excavation and collection
Geological analysis of the surrounding tectonics-1?dictionary=stem&did=1005" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1005,'stem');return false;" style="color:#009000;">stem-standards?dictionary=rock&did=792" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,792,'rock');return false;" style="color:#009000;">tectonics-1?dictionary=rock&did=792" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,792,'rock');return false;" style="color:#009000;">rock layers
Fossils provide a rich source of information about the tectonics-1?dictionary=stem&did=1005" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1005,'stem');return false;" style="color:#009000;">stem-standards?dictionary=history&did=915" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,915,'history');return false;" style="color:#009000;">tectonics-1?dictionary=history&did=915" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,915,'history');return false;" style="color:#009000;">history of tectonics-1?dictionary=stem&did=1005" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1005,'stem');return false;" style="color:#009000;">stem-standards?dictionary=life&did=774" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,774,'life');return false;" style="color:#009000;">tectonics-1?dictionary=life&did=774" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,774,'life');return false;" style="color:#009000;">life on tectonics-1?dictionary=stem&did=1005" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,1005,'stem');return false;" style="color:#009000;">stem-standards?dictionary=earth&did=771" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,771,'earth');return false;" style="color:#009000;">tectonics-1?dictionary=earth&did=771" onclick="getAsistant(this,event,771,'earth');return false;" style="color:#009000;">Earth, and studying them helps us unravel the mysteries of the past.
Earth/Space Science: Students will use scientific skills and processes to explain the chemical and physical interactions (i.e., natural forces and cycles, transfer of energy) of the environment, Earth, and the universe that occur over time.
Earth History: Recognize and explain that fossils found in layers of sedimentary rock provide evidence of changing life forms.
Recognize how different types of fossils are formed, such as petrified remains, imprints, molds and casts.
Recognize and explain that the fossil record of plants and animals describes changes in life forms over time.