FOSSILSFOSSILS

Start with Living OrganismStart with Living Organism

The organism can be either a plant or an animal.

The Organism DiesThe Organism Dies The soft parts that The soft parts that

are exposed to air are exposed to air decompose quickly.decompose quickly.

Hard parts like Hard parts like bones, shells, or bones, shells, or wood, don’t wood, don’t decompose as decompose as quickly. They have quickly. They have the greatest the greatest chance of chance of becoming a fossil.becoming a fossil.

The organism may be buried with The organism may be buried with layers from the earth. These layers from the earth. These layers might be mud, lava or layers might be mud, lava or

water.water.

How are Fossils Found?How are Fossils Found?

http://faculty.etsu.edu/wallaces/mosa.html

How do fossils help us How do fossils help us to learn more?to learn more?

Thinking like a paleontologistThinking like a paleontologist

Would the bear on the left live in this warm environment?

….Or, would the bear on the left live in this colder environment?

How do you know?How do you know?First… Look at the bear in this picture. What environment do you predict it lives in?

How did you decide which environment the bear lives in?

http://www.arctic.noaa.gov/gallery.html

Look at these pictures of things that come from a tree. Make a prediction about the environment where you would find this tree.

Would the tree live in this environment?

… or, would the tree live in this environment?

Let’s Try AgainLet’s Try Again

This is more difficult isn’t it? Why? What would help you decide on the correct environment?

http://www.nps.gov/olym/wic/gallery.htm

http://www.nps.gov/yell/slidefile/index.htm

Now you are the Now you are the paleontologistpaleontologist

Here in an example of the kinds of fossil your team has found. What do you think the environment might have been like in the past?

This is the environment where you are looking for fossils.

Now you are the Now you are the paleontologistpaleontologist

You just found the plant fossils, on the left, in an area where it is now hot and dry like the picture on the right. What predictions can you make about what the environment might have been like in the past?

“Small animal fossils are one of the best indicators of prehistoric ecosystems and environments. For example, a fossilized frog tells scientists that the habitat within which it lived must have been wetter because the frog was dependent on permanent water to breed. In other words, it was a captive within its environment.” A quote from a Scientist from the Page Museum's Laboratory

http://www.tarpits.org/education/guide/index.html

Once Upon a TimeOnce Upon a Time

Wooly MammothAsian Elephant

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/science/frontiers_20020515.shtml

How are these two animals the same? How are they different?

Once Upon a Time – A Look at Once Upon a Time – A Look at the Horsethe Horse

Horse A

Horse B

Change Over Time – A Horse’s Change Over Time – A Horse’s FootFoot

Note how the distance of the wrist Note how the distance of the wrist bones from the ground changes. bones from the ground changes. What else has changed?What else has changed?

wrist

Adapted from Florida Museum of Natural History. For more information visit their website at Adapted from Florida Museum of Natural History. For more information visit their website at http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/natsci/vertpaleo/fhc/relatives1.htmhttp://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/natsci/vertpaleo/fhc/relatives1.htm

How have the bones in horse feet changed over time? How have the bones in horse feet changed over time? Why might this have happened?Why might this have happened?

Let’s Look More Let’s Look More CloselyClosely

Adapted from Florida Museum of Natural History. For more information visit Adapted from Florida Museum of Natural History. For more information visit their website at http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/natsci/vertpaleo/fhc/relatives1.htmtheir website at http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/natsci/vertpaleo/fhc/relatives1.htm

Fossils are formed Fossils are formed under very special under very special conditions.conditions.

They give us clues They give us clues about what life was about what life was like long ago.like long ago.

Fossils also give us Fossils also give us clues about the clues about the environment from a environment from a long time ago.long time ago.

They help us They help us understand that plant understand that plant and animal species and animal species change over time.change over time.

Wrap-Up

CREDITSCREDITSThe Fossils Lessons were developed by

Erika Barrom and Susan Garrison, Sunnyside School DistrictJennifer Johnston, North Franklin School District

Vicki Mitchell and Georgia Boatman, Kennewick School DistrictPeggy Willcuts, Walla Walla School District

Karen Wieda, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

This project was made possible with funds from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science, Office of Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists.

The project also would not have been successful without the tremendous effort put forth by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA scientists who gave their knowledge, spirit, passion and patience to this project.