Explain Landscape Changes Over Time - 4th Grade Science
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What evidence from rocks and fossils best supports that a landscape has changed over time?
What evidence from rocks and fossils best supports that a landscape has changed over time?
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Different fossils and sediments in different layers showing changing environments. Each layer tells a different environmental story.
Different fossils and sediments in different layers showing changing environments. Each layer tells a different environmental story.
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What does a rock layer made of very fine, thin sediments most strongly suggest about past water conditions?
What does a rock layer made of very fine, thin sediments most strongly suggest about past water conditions?
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Calm water, such as a lake bottom or deep ocean. Fine particles settle only in still water.
Calm water, such as a lake bottom or deep ocean. Fine particles settle only in still water.
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Identify what matching the same index fossil in two locations suggests about the layers.
Identify what matching the same index fossil in two locations suggests about the layers.
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The layers formed during the same time period. Index fossils existed everywhere briefly.
The layers formed during the same time period. Index fossils existed everywhere briefly.
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What is a trace fossil, and what does it show about an organism?
What is a trace fossil, and what does it show about an organism?
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Tracks, burrows, or droppings; shows behavior and activity. Evidence of movement, not body parts.
Tracks, burrows, or droppings; shows behavior and activity. Evidence of movement, not body parts.
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What does it suggest if plant fossils are found in a rock layer above marine fossils?
What does it suggest if plant fossils are found in a rock layer above marine fossils?
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The environment changed from ocean to land over time. Different fossils show environmental shifts.
The environment changed from ocean to land over time. Different fossils show environmental shifts.
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What is an index fossil, and why is it useful for comparing rock layers?
What is an index fossil, and why is it useful for comparing rock layers?
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A widespread, short-lived fossil; helps match ages of rock layers. Same species = same time period globally.
A widespread, short-lived fossil; helps match ages of rock layers. Same species = same time period globally.
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What is uplift, and how can it help explain marine fossils found high above sea level?
What is uplift, and how can it help explain marine fossils found high above sea level?
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Raising of Earth’s crust; it can lift seabed rocks to higher elevations. Tectonic forces push rock layers upward.
Raising of Earth’s crust; it can lift seabed rocks to higher elevations. Tectonic forces push rock layers upward.
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Identify the most likely cause if a canyon cuts through many rock layers in one area.
Identify the most likely cause if a canyon cuts through many rock layers in one area.
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Long-term river erosion cutting down through rock layers. Rivers carve deep valleys over millions of years.
Long-term river erosion cutting down through rock layers. Rivers carve deep valleys over millions of years.
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What does the Law of Superposition state about undisturbed rock layers?
What does the Law of Superposition state about undisturbed rock layers?
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Lower layers are older; higher layers are younger. Sediments deposit chronologically, creating a time sequence.
Lower layers are older; higher layers are younger. Sediments deposit chronologically, creating a time sequence.
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Which option best explains matching fossils in the same type of rock on two separated hills?
Which option best explains matching fossils in the same type of rock on two separated hills?
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The hills were once connected before erosion separated them. Erosion carved valleys between once-continuous rock formations.
The hills were once connected before erosion separated them. Erosion carved valleys between once-continuous rock formations.
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Identify the relative age: A rock layer cuts across other layers as an intrusion; is it older or younger?
Identify the relative age: A rock layer cuts across other layers as an intrusion; is it older or younger?
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Younger than the layers it cuts through. Cross-cutting relationships show intrusions form after existing layers.
Younger than the layers it cuts through. Cross-cutting relationships show intrusions form after existing layers.
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What is a fossil?
What is a fossil?
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Preserved remains or traces of a living thing from long ago. Forms when organisms are buried and minerals replace organic material.
Preserved remains or traces of a living thing from long ago. Forms when organisms are buried and minerals replace organic material.
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Identify the relative age: A fossil in a lower layer is compared to one above it in undisturbed rock.
Identify the relative age: A fossil in a lower layer is compared to one above it in undisturbed rock.
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The lower-layer fossil is older. The Law of Superposition shows older rocks beneath younger ones.
The lower-layer fossil is older. The Law of Superposition shows older rocks beneath younger ones.
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What does a fault in rock layers show?
What does a fault in rock layers show?
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Rocks broke and moved due to Earth forces. Tectonic stress creates fractures where rock masses shift position.
Rocks broke and moved due to Earth forces. Tectonic stress creates fractures where rock masses shift position.
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What is a sedimentary layer?
What is a sedimentary layer?
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A band of rock made from sediments pressed and cemented. Forms when loose sediments compact under pressure over time.
A band of rock made from sediments pressed and cemented. Forms when loose sediments compact under pressure over time.
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Which event is most likely if rock layers are bent or tilted instead of flat?
Which event is most likely if rock layers are bent or tilted instead of flat?
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Tectonic forces changed the land after the layers formed. Plate movements can fold, tilt, or uplift originally flat layers.
Tectonic forces changed the land after the layers formed. Plate movements can fold, tilt, or uplift originally flat layers.
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What is a trace fossil?
What is a trace fossil?
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A preserved sign of activity, such as tracks, burrows, or droppings. Shows ancient behavior without preserving the actual organism.
A preserved sign of activity, such as tracks, burrows, or droppings. Shows ancient behavior without preserving the actual organism.
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Which rock type most often forms in layers and can contain fossils: igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic?
Which rock type most often forms in layers and can contain fossils: igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic?
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Sedimentary rock. Forms from compressed sediments, preserving organisms between layers.
Sedimentary rock. Forms from compressed sediments, preserving organisms between layers.
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Which rock layer is older in an undisturbed stack: top layer or bottom layer?
Which rock layer is older in an undisturbed stack: top layer or bottom layer?
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Bottom layer. According to superposition, oldest layers settle first.
Bottom layer. According to superposition, oldest layers settle first.
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Which process most directly creates new sediment layers: weathering, erosion, or deposition?
Which process most directly creates new sediment layers: weathering, erosion, or deposition?
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Deposition. Sediment must settle to form new layers.
Deposition. Sediment must settle to form new layers.
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