Fossils
Definition.
When a plant or animal dies.
It gets buried by mud, sand, or soil.
Over a very long time, these layers turn into rock.
The body or its mark is saved inside the rock.
Types of fossils.
Body fossils – bones, teeth, shells.
Trace fossils – footprints, burrows, leaf prints.
Why fossils are important.
They tell us what lived in the past.
They help scientists learn about dinosaurs, ancient plants, and old climates.
How does something become a fossil?
1. A plant or animal dies near water, mud, or sand.
2. Mud, sand, or ash covers it.
3. More layers pile up.
4. Soft parts decay, but bones, shells, or teeth remain.
5. Minerals slowly replace the bones or fill their shape.
6. Over millions of years, the layers harden into rock.
How do layers build up?
1. Rocks break into tiny pieces.
2. Sediment is carried away.
3. Sediment settles down.
4. Layer on layer forms.
5. Layers get pressed.
6. Layers turn into rock.
Fun fact
The oldest fossils are over 3 billion years old.