Fossils & the Fossil Record - FREE Video Worksheet - Middle School Science

How do we know what life was like millions of years ago? The answer lies buried in rocks all around us! Fossils are Earth's history book, telling incredible stories of ancient life, evolution, and environmental changes spanning billions of years.

Standards:

NGSS: 

• MS-LS4-1, MS-LS4-2, MS-ESS2-3

TEKS: 

• 7.10.A, BIO.9.A, BIO.9.B

⭐ What's Covered?:

✅ How fossils form and why they're so rare 
✅ Different types of fossils: body fossils, trace fossils, and more 
✅ How rock layers reveal Earth's timeline (relative dating) 
✅ What the fossil record tells us about evolution and extinction 
✅ Amazing fossil discoveries: T. rex, Lucy, and living fossils 
✅ How scientists use fossils to understand ancient environments 
✅ Why gaps exist in the fossil record and what they mean 
✅ How fossils support the theory of evolution

What will the students be doing?

● Students will be given either a printed or digital handout to record answers on.

● Either individually or as a class watch the video

● Then, they will use the video and their own knowledge to answer the questions.

● Use questions to spark discussions and apply information beyond the page!