Fossil facts can be fun to learn.
There are a lot of fun fossil facts that can intrigue elementary school students. With more effective dating technology, scientists can pinpoint the age of fossils more exactly. From plant, animal and trace fossils, students will enjoy learning about these fossil discoveries.
Defining the Fossil
Fossils are the naturally preserved remains of organisms that were once alive. Plants and animals are often destroyed by decay or by another animal that chooses it for a meal. But sometimes, an animal is buried before it is destroyed and it becomes fossilized. Plant and animal remains can be trapped in rock, much of the time beneath the sea.
The Oldest Fossils
Scientists have found evidence of microscopic life forms that are around 3,700 million years old in Greenland.Only two places in the world have the oldest fossils of animals with more than one cell. The Chengjiang Deposits in the Yunnan Province of China are thought to be around 545 million years old, and a close second is the Burgess Shale in Canada, created approximately 530 million years ago in the Cambrian period.
Fossils without a Body
Paleontologists can learn a lot about an organism form trace fossils or signs that organisms were once present. Even if the body of the plant or animal is absent, there is a lot to be learned from tracks, trails, burrows, eggs, footprints and leaf impressions.
Gecko Fossil Found in Amber
Amber is considered a decorative "stone" for jewelry, but in reality, it is solidified sap that oozed from a tree. Often, amber traps insects and preserves them for millions of years for us to inspect. Amazingly, the oldest fossil of a gecko found to date was entombed in amber 100 million years ago. The details of the remains of the gecko include the tiny sticky "toe hairs" that allow both ancient and modern geckos to cling to surfaces and even cross a ceiling upside down.
The Biggest Bug Fossil
A huge fossil claw that belonged to a giant insect was discovered in Germany. The claw was 390 million years old, and the sea scorpion it belonged to was the size of a large crocodile.
Fossilized Dinosaur Eggs
Three amateur explorers found over a hundred dinosaur eggs, thought to be laid by sauropod dinosaurs. These dinosaurs ate plants and had long necks and tails. They are considered among the biggest dinosaurs ever to have walked the Earth.
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