Who’s Dating Who? Fossil Record Lab
Fossil recording is the way paleontologists can determine the relative and absolute age of fossils and rock layers. They use index fossils to help date the layers, with the Law of Superposition, which states that the oldest layers are the furthest down, with the youngest layer being on the top. This is because as new sediments are deposited, they push the older layers down. Index fossils are fossils that are found in many places but only lived a fairly short period of time.
You have been sent 9 samples from different layers of rock. You and your partner must study the fossils in the samples and determine the age of the layers using relative dating. (Absolute dating information takes longer to process, and the paleontologist who sent you the samples needs the data immediately!)
Fossil Record Lab Proper:
NGSS Standards Covered
MS-LS4-1 Analyze and interpret data for patterns in the fossil record that document the existence, diversity, extinction, and change of life forms throughout the history of life on Earth under the assumption that natural laws operate today as in the past.
MS-LS4-2 Apply scientific ideas to construct an explanation for the anatomical similarities and difference among modern organisms and between modern and fossil organisms to infer evolutionary relationships.
Fossil Record as Evidence of Evolution Learning Objectives
- Identify patterns of fossilization.
- Identify the differences between absolute and relative dating.
- Explain what information the fossil record gives scientists.
I Can Statement
I can analyze fossil data and use observations to make inferences about how life has evolved.
Fossil Record as Evidence of Evolution Vocabulary:
- fossil
- paleontologist
- body fossil
- trace fossil
- sedimentary rock
- law of superposition, index fossil
- relative dating
- absolute dating
- fossil record
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Fossil Record Activity Lab Materials:
- copy of sample images, cut apart.
- data table
Fossil Record Lab Procedure:
- Sort the samples from oldest to youngest. You know that sample 2 is the oldest, from work you had done before. Sort all the cards before you write anything on the table. Don’t forget that after an organism becomes extinct and is gone from that fossil layer, it does not reappear in younger rocks higher up in the layers.
- Now record your information in the data table. First, write the sample number in the first column, with the oldest at the bottom- Sample 2. This one has been done for you.
- Write the names of the fossils in order of appearance in the fossil record in the cells from left to right on the data table. Now put an X in each layer that the fossil appears in the column.
Data Table- Part 1
Procedure: Part 2
Finally, the results from the absolute age testing arrive! However, the dates are all jumbled up and you can’t afford to re-do the testing! What can you do?
Wait! You know the relative ages of the samples from the previous work. All you have to do is match the sample to the absolute age you were sent.
In the data table, copy the sample numbers you dated by the Law of Superposition. Put the ages in order as well. Then in the final column, write the names of all the samples that were found in that layer.
Here are the dates. Remember, mya is million years ago. The oldest is 31.2 mya, so that would be the age of Sample 2.
26.8 mya, 31.2 mya, 19.1 mya, 16.9 mya, 24.2 mya, 13.5 mya, 22.3 mya, 15.8 mya, 29.4 mya
Data Table – Part 2
Discuss the following with your students:
Part 1 Questions:
- What pattern do you see in the X’s on the table?
- Is there anything that is not exactly in that pattern? Why is that?
- Which fossil is the youngest?
- Can you tell exactly how old any of the fossils are? Why or why not?
- What information does relative dating give to paleontologists?
Part 2 Questions:
- Which fossil organism existed for the longest period of time? Explain your answer.
- Which organism lived for the shortest period of time? Explain your answer.
Sample Cards
Sample 1 | Sample 2 | Sample 3 |
Sample 4 | Sample 5 | Sample 6 |
Sample 7 | Sample 8 | Sample 9 |
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