Planet Earth and Beyond: Fossils in Rock NATURAL SCIENCES GRADE 5

Fossils in Rock NATURAL SCIENCES GRADE 5

 Fossils are the remains of ancient plants and animals preserved (kept safe) in layers of rock  During fossilisation, the soft parts of the plants and animals rot away NATURAL SCIENCES GRADE 5

 Only the hard parts remain and become preserved as fossils  Most of the organisms that scientists study are now extinct (they do not exist anymore) NATURAL SCIENCES GRADE 5

Let’s watch a video  NATURAL SCIENCES GRADE 5

1. When a plant / animal dies, it falls to the ground This TRICERATOPS died on the banks of a river NATURAL SCIENCES GRADE 5

2. The flesh of the dinosaur decomposes, or other animals eat it. Only the skeleton remains. NATURAL SCIENCES GRADE 5

3. There was a lot of rain, so the river rose and covered the skeleton with mud and sand NATURAL SCIENCES GRADE 5

4. Over time, more sand and mud layers are formed on top of the skeleton. The layers become hard and turn to rock. NATURAL SCIENCES GRADE 5

5. Wind and water erodes the rock over time and the fossils are exposed on the surface. A scientist can now carefully remove the rock and sand around the skeleton and study the fossil in a safe place. NATURAL SCIENCES GRADE 5

NATURAL SCIENCES GRADE 5

 Nobody was around millions of years ago  We have to find other ways to find out what life was like millions of years ago  Fossils give us information about the past NATURAL SCIENCES GRADE 5

 Fossilized animal droppings tell us what the animal used to eat  We can then work out what plants grew in that time NATURAL SCIENCES GRADE 5

 Image:  Image:  Image:  Image:  Image:  Image: dianastaresinicdeane.wordpress.com dianastaresinicdeane.wordpress.com  Image: geology.com geology.com  Image: fineartamerica.com fineartamerica.com  (video)  (video)    CAPS Natural Sciences and Technology Grade 5  Barnard T, Bevan W, Collett H, McKay R, Turley C Oxford Successful Natural Science Grade 5 Leaner’s Book. Cape Town: Oxford University Press