Use fossils to provide evidence of organisms - 3rd Grade Science
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What is a fossil?
What is a fossil?
A fossil is a preserved or protected piece of a plant or animal that is no longer living. Fossils can be used to learn about organisms that lived during a time humans were not around to study them. Fossils also allow scientists to learn about different environments and any changes that have occurred over millions of years.
A fossil is a preserved or protected piece of a plant or animal that is no longer living. Fossils can be used to learn about organisms that lived during a time humans were not around to study them. Fossils also allow scientists to learn about different environments and any changes that have occurred over millions of years.
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Fossils can provide evidence about organisms. Which statement is something fossils CANNOT tell us about a plant or animal?
Fossils can provide evidence about organisms. Which statement is something fossils CANNOT tell us about a plant or animal?
Fossils seem simple, but they contain a vast amount of information for researchers and scientists to study. Fossils can give us a general idea of what an organism looked like, how it has changed or evolved, where and when it lived on Earth, and even what it might have eaten. Fossils cannot tell us what an organism liked or disliked. These are personal preferences that an organism would have, and that cannot be determined from a fossil.
Fossils seem simple, but they contain a vast amount of information for researchers and scientists to study. Fossils can give us a general idea of what an organism looked like, how it has changed or evolved, where and when it lived on Earth, and even what it might have eaten. Fossils cannot tell us what an organism liked or disliked. These are personal preferences that an organism would have, and that cannot be determined from a fossil.
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Almost all previous plants and animals became fossils.
Almost all previous plants and animals became fossils.
This statement is surprisingly false! An organism rarely became or becomes a fossil. Many prehistoric animals were eaten, decomposed before preservation, or the elements broke the bones or materials down beyond recognition. Conditions within the environment and the location of the dead organism had to be or have to be ideal for a fossil to be formed. Finding the fossils presents a whole other set of challenges!
This statement is surprisingly false! An organism rarely became or becomes a fossil. Many prehistoric animals were eaten, decomposed before preservation, or the elements broke the bones or materials down beyond recognition. Conditions within the environment and the location of the dead organism had to be or have to be ideal for a fossil to be formed. Finding the fossils presents a whole other set of challenges!
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Gordon Hubbell and a crew of fossil hunters were digging holes in the desert of Peru in 1988. This desert is one of the driest places on Earth. It gets almost no rain. Hubbel was digging and found jawbones and more than 200 sharp teeth. He is an expert in fossilized sharks, so he recognized the teeth right away. They were shaped like triangles and came to a very sharp point. They belonged to a distant relative of the great white shark!
How could Hubbell "prove" that these teeth were from a relative of the great white shark?
Gordon Hubbell and a crew of fossil hunters were digging holes in the desert of Peru in 1988. This desert is one of the driest places on Earth. It gets almost no rain. Hubbel was digging and found jawbones and more than 200 sharp teeth. He is an expert in fossilized sharks, so he recognized the teeth right away. They were shaped like triangles and came to a very sharp point. They belonged to a distant relative of the great white shark!
How could Hubbell "prove" that these teeth were from a relative of the great white shark?
Hubbell is an expert in fossilized sharks, so he recognized the similarities between his find and great white shark teeth, but others may need "proof" before they would believe him. If Hubbell placed a great white shark's tooth next to his fossil, the similarities and differences could be noted. By comparing the teeth, it would allow scientists to determine what creature it belonged to with certainty.
Hubbell is an expert in fossilized sharks, so he recognized the similarities between his find and great white shark teeth, but others may need "proof" before they would believe him. If Hubbell placed a great white shark's tooth next to his fossil, the similarities and differences could be noted. By comparing the teeth, it would allow scientists to determine what creature it belonged to with certainty.
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Scientists found a fossil of a tooth in the dirt. They want to predict what this organism ate based on the shape of the tooth.
Which answer choice is most reasonable?
Scientists found a fossil of a tooth in the dirt. They want to predict what this organism ate based on the shape of the tooth.
Which answer choice is most reasonable?
Fossils tell scientists many things about animals and plants that lived long ago. If a researcher were studying this tooth, they could see it is large, would come to a sharp point, and these types of teeth most often belong to a carnivore or something that eats meat. If this tooth were compared to those of other creatures that eat meat, there would be many similarities. If it were compared to a tooth of an herbivore or something that eats plants, there would be many differences. Scientists make inferences based on comparisons to other findings.
Fossils tell scientists many things about animals and plants that lived long ago. If a researcher were studying this tooth, they could see it is large, would come to a sharp point, and these types of teeth most often belong to a carnivore or something that eats meat. If this tooth were compared to those of other creatures that eat meat, there would be many similarities. If it were compared to a tooth of an herbivore or something that eats plants, there would be many differences. Scientists make inferences based on comparisons to other findings.
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How does a fossil tell us about an organism that lived in the past?
How does a fossil tell us about an organism that lived in the past?
Fossils are a rich source of information to learn about organisms of the past. A fossil can tell us the size of an organism or at least its bones. We can also study where the organisms lived based on where the fossil is found. Scientists can explore what the conditions of that area were, so we know if the organism was an aquatic plant, a land-dwelling creature, or something that needed warm weather.
Fossils are a rich source of information to learn about organisms of the past. A fossil can tell us the size of an organism or at least its bones. We can also study where the organisms lived based on where the fossil is found. Scientists can explore what the conditions of that area were, so we know if the organism was an aquatic plant, a land-dwelling creature, or something that needed warm weather.
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What is an organism? Example: Fossils can be used to learn about organisms that lived during a time humans were not around to study them.
What is an organism? Example: Fossils can be used to learn about organisms that lived during a time humans were not around to study them.
Organisms are a term for a plant, animal, or single-cell life form. "Organism" encompasses all living things, including humans. In the example above, humans are using the fossils of these previously living things to study and learn more about them.
Organisms are a term for a plant, animal, or single-cell life form. "Organism" encompasses all living things, including humans. In the example above, humans are using the fossils of these previously living things to study and learn more about them.
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Fossils can provide evidence about organisms. Which statement is something fossils can tell us about a plant or animal?
Fossils can provide evidence about organisms. Which statement is something fossils can tell us about a plant or animal?
Fossils seem simple, but they contain a vast amount of information for researchers and scientists to study. Fossils can give us a general idea of an organism's size, how it has changed or evolved, and where it lived on Earth. Scientists and researchers can learn immense amounts of information from fossils.
Fossils seem simple, but they contain a vast amount of information for researchers and scientists to study. Fossils can give us a general idea of an organism's size, how it has changed or evolved, and where it lived on Earth. Scientists and researchers can learn immense amounts of information from fossils.
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Scientists on an expedition recently found the fossil below. What assumption can the scientists make about this dinosaur?
Scientists on an expedition recently found the fossil below. What assumption can the scientists make about this dinosaur?
Fossils tell scientists many things about animals and plants that lived long ago. If a researcher were studying this dinosaur, they could make assumptions about its life based on its physical characteristics. This dinosaur has large horns, so it likely used them in defense situations. With only fossils, it is not possible to tell what it was scared of or what its color was. Scientists can measure the bones and compare them to other findings to determine if the dinosaur would be considered small or large. In this case, the dinosaur appears to be large.
Fossils tell scientists many things about animals and plants that lived long ago. If a researcher were studying this dinosaur, they could make assumptions about its life based on its physical characteristics. This dinosaur has large horns, so it likely used them in defense situations. With only fossils, it is not possible to tell what it was scared of or what its color was. Scientists can measure the bones and compare them to other findings to determine if the dinosaur would be considered small or large. In this case, the dinosaur appears to be large.
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A group of researchers found the fossils below on a dig. What assumptions can they make about these organisms?
A group of researchers found the fossils below on a dig. What assumptions can they make about these organisms?
Researchers studying this fossil can learn quite a few things from something that appears so simple. Scientists could determine that these are a species of fish based on their shape and bone structure, they could swim as evidence of the tail and structure, and with so many together in one place, it is possible they lived in groups or schools. Scientists can also test the age of the rock, learn about the location they lived, and determine which family of aquatic creatures they are similar to.
Researchers studying this fossil can learn quite a few things from something that appears so simple. Scientists could determine that these are a species of fish based on their shape and bone structure, they could swim as evidence of the tail and structure, and with so many together in one place, it is possible they lived in groups or schools. Scientists can also test the age of the rock, learn about the location they lived, and determine which family of aquatic creatures they are similar to.
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