Rocks, Fossils, and Time

Grade 4 Science Worksheet

Circle the answer.

1. 1.

   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
2. 2.

   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
3. 3.

   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
4. 4.

   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
5. 5.

   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