Fossils
Science Benchmark
Fossils are evidence of living organisms from the past and are usually preserved in sedimentary rocks. A fossil may be an impression left in sediments, the preserved remains of an organism, or a trace mark showing that an organism once excited. Fossils are usually made from the hard parts of an organism because soft parts decay quickly. Fossils provide clues to Earth's history. They provide evidence that can be used to make inferences about past environments. Fossils can be compared to one another, to living organisms, and to organisms that lived long ago.
Online Resources
Dinosaur Extinction Theories
Asteroid Impact Theory
Volcanic Eruption Theory
Continental Drift Theory
Fossils are evidence of living organisms from the past and are usually preserved in sedimentary rocks. A fossil may be an impression left in sediments, the preserved remains of an organism, or a trace mark showing that an organism once excited. Fossils are usually made from the hard parts of an organism because soft parts decay quickly. Fossils provide clues to Earth's history. They provide evidence that can be used to make inferences about past environments. Fossils can be compared to one another, to living organisms, and to organisms that lived long ago.
Online Resources
- Observe How A Fossil Forms
- Making Fossils
- The Virtual Fossil Museum - Fossils across geological time are presented in multiple contexts of geological history, the tree of life, paleobiology, and evolution. The Virtual Fossil Museum is an educational resource providing an ever-growing extensive collection of fossil images.
- Interactive Prehistoric Timeline - Learn about the events that happened on Earth millions of years ago with this interactive timeline.
- Virtual Fossil Dig - Participate in uncovering your own fossils with this virtual fossil dig. Use the same tools that archeologists would use at a real dig site to learn about the past.
- Giant Fish's Last Meal
- Deadly Dinosaur Duel
- Dinosaur Nest
- Virtual Dinosaur Dig - Presented by the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Students participate in the excavation of a dinosaur.
- OZ Fossils Pitfall Game
Dinosaur Extinction Theories
Asteroid Impact Theory
- http://science.jrank.org/pages/2643/Extinction-asteroid-impact-theory.html
- http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/extinction/dinosaurs/asteroid.html
- http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/dinosaurflr/impact.html
Volcanic Eruption Theory
- http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/extinction/dinosaurs/volcanism.html
- http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/dinosaurflr/volcanoes.html
Continental Drift Theory
- http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/extinction/dinosaurs/drift.html
- http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/diapsids/extinctheory.html
(Hint: Look under plate tectonics)