Year 6 Science: What fossils are
Part of the Year 6 Science fossils and living things over time chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
What fossils are
A fossil is the remains or trace of a living thing that lived long ago, usually many thousands or millions of years ago. Fossils tell us about living things that are no longer alive.
- A body fossil is a part of the living thing itself, such as a bone, a shell or a tooth, that has turned into stone.
- A trace fossil is a sign that a living thing was there, such as a footprint or a burrow.
Hard parts, such as bones and shells, are much more likely to be preserved than soft parts, such as skin or muscle, which decay quickly.
Key ideas
- A fossil is the remains or trace of a living thing that lived long ago.
- A body fossil is a part of the living thing, such as a bone or a shell.
- A trace fossil is a sign of a living thing, such as a footprint.
- Hard parts are more likely to become fossils than soft parts.
Method. Think about what is preserved.
- Look at the fossil. The shell is a part of the living thing itself.part of the animal
- Name the type. A part of the living thing is a body fossil.body fossil
- Write the answer. body fossil
Check. A footprint would be a trace fossil. ✓
Method. Think about the footprint.
- Look at the fossil. A footprint is a sign that a living thing was there, not a part of it.sign
- Name the type. So the footprint is a trace fossil.trace fossil
- Write the answer. trace fossil
Check. A footprint shows the animal walked there. ✓
Method. Think about which part lasts longer.
- Compare the parts. Hard parts, such as bones, last longer than soft skin, which decays quickly.hard parts last
- Choose. So a bone is more likely to become a fossil.bone
- Write the answer. bone
Check. Hard parts are preserved more often. ✓
Watch out
Watch out: a fossil is not a living thing. It is the remains or the trace of one, which has been preserved in rock.
Exam tip
Exam tip. Use the words body fossil or trace fossil, and say what the fossil shows about a living thing from long ago.
Try it (with your teacher, or a grown-up at home). Look at pictures of fossils in a book or on a safe website, with a grown-up. Sort them into body fossils and trace fossils. Do not dig into rocks or take fossils from protected places. Wash your hands afterwards.
Exercise 5A What fossils are
Method. Read the definition.
- Read the definition. A fossil is the remains or trace of a living thing from long ago.fossil
- Write the answer. fossil
Check. Fossils are found in rocks. ✓
Method. Think about what fossils can be.
- Think about examples. Fossils can be animal remains, such as shells and bones, or plant remains, such as leaves.animals and plants
- Decide. So the answer is yes.yes
- Write the answer. yes
Check. Leaves are plant fossils. ✓
Method. Read the definition.
- Read the definition. A trace fossil is a sign that a living thing was there, such as a footprint.sign
- Write the answer. So a footprint is a trace fossil.trace fossil
- Write the answer. trace fossil
Check. Burrows are trace fossils too. ✓
Method. Read the definition.
- Read the definition. A body fossil is a part of the living thing itself.part of the living thing
- Write the words. So the answer is body fossil.body fossil
- Write the answer. body fossil
Check. A body fossil is the animal or plant itself, preserved. ✓
Method. Recall the rock that forms from layers.
- Recall. Fossils form in rock made from layers of sediment, which is sedimentary rock.sedimentary
- Write the answer. sedimentary
Check. Sedimentary rock forms from layers. ✓
Method. Compare the two parts.
- Compare. A shell is hard, and skin is soft and decays quickly.hard
- Choose. So the shell is more likely to be preserved.shell
- Write the answer. shell
Check. Hard parts last longer. ✓
Method. Read the idea.
- Read the idea. Some fossils are of living things that no longer exist.no longer exist
- Write the answer. extinct
Check. Extinct means that the whole group has died out. ✓
Method. Check the definition.
- Read the definition. A fossil is the remains or trace of a living thing from long ago.remains
- Decide. Remains are not alive, so the answer is no.no
- Write the answer. no
Check. A fossil is preserved in rock, not alive. ✓
Method. Apply the definition.
- Apply the definition. A leaf print is a trace of a plant that lived long ago.trace of a plant
- Decide. So the leaf print is a fossil, and the answer is yes.yes
- Write the answer. yes
Check. A print is a trace fossil. ✓
Method. Apply the definition.
- Apply the definition. A footprint preserved in rock is a trace of a living thing.trace
- Decide. So the footprint is a fossil, and the answer is yes.yes
- Write the answer. yes
Check. A trace fossil is still a fossil. ✓
Method. Think about hard parts.
- Think about hard parts. Shells are hard parts that last well.shell
- Write one word. Shell is a good answer; so is a bone or tooth.shell
- Write the answer. shell
Check. Bones and teeth are also hard parts. ✓
Method. Think about what a fossil preserves.
- Think about the fossil. A fossil keeps the shape of a living thing, or its trace, for a very long time.keeps the shape
- Think about the past. So we can learn about living things that lived long ago.long ago
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that says a fossil is the preserved remains or trace of a living thing, so it shows what lived long ago.
Check. Fossils are evidence of the past. ✓
Method. Think about the types of fossil.
- Think about types. Fossils can be single shells, leaves, footprints, or teeth, not only complete skeletons.not only skeletons
- Decide. So Ruby is not right.no
- Write the answer. no
Check. Many fossils are only parts of a living thing. ✓
Method. Think about decay.
- Think about soft parts. Soft parts decay quickly after death.decay quickly
- Think about preservation. So they are much less likely to be preserved than hard parts.less likely
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that says soft parts decay quickly, so they are much less likely to be preserved than hard parts.
Check. Hard parts are the ones that last. ✓