How Fossils Form
Science · Dinosaurs & Paleontology · conceptual
Explain in simple terms how fossils form: an organism dies and is quickly buried in sediment; over millions of years minerals replace the remains and the sediment turns to rock, preserving the shape
What mastery looks like
- Describe the basic sequence: organism dies, buried in sediment, minerals replace remains over time
- Explain why fossilisation is rare — most organisms decompose before being buried
- Use the words 'sediment', 'minerals', and 'rock' correctly when explaining
Check your understanding
If How Fossils Form made a salt-dough fossil at school, could they explain how real fossils form underground over millions of years?
Prerequisites
Required first
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