★Rocks, Fossils, and Time
Grade 4 Science Worksheet
NameDate
Circle the answer.
Which is a fossil?
- a fresh leaf on a rock
- a rock shaped like a leaf by wind
- a painting of a leaf on rock
- a leaf print pressed into rock
A river canyon has rock with fish fossils at the bottom and rock with dinosaur tracks higher up. What is the best conclusion?
- the canyon is older than both layers
- dinosaurs walked there before the water came
- fish and dinosaurs lived in the same layer
- water covered the area before dinosaurs walked there
Two students explain shell fossils on a mountain. A: "The mountain was once under the sea and rose." B: "Birds dropped the shells." Why is A's idea better?
- the shells are inside the rock layers, not on top
- shells are too light to fossilize
- birds cannot carry anything at all
- mountains have always been under water
A layer of rock has fossils of ice-age animals with thick fur. What can scientists infer about the past climate?
- it was very hot
- it was the same as a warm beach
- it was always rainy
- it was very cold
Bottom to top: shale with fish, a layer of volcanic ash, sandstone with footprints. Which order of events fits?
- lake with fish, a volcano erupted, animals walked on sand
- animals walked on sand, a volcano erupted, lake with fish
- lake with fish, animals walked on sand, a volcano erupted
- a volcano erupted, lake with fish, animals walked on sand
