How Fossils Form
Explain in simple terms how fossils form: an organism dies and is quickly buried in sediment; over millions of years minerals replace the remains and the sediment turns to rock, preserving the shape
Typical age: 7–9 years
“If your child made a salt-dough fossil at school, could they explain how real fossils form underground over millions of years?”
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Needs first
- Fossils & PalaeontologistsREQUIRED
Must understand what fossils are before learning how they form in detail
- Real Dinosaurs vs Fiction
Understanding how fossils form (and that fossil evidence is the basis of dinosaur science) is enriched by the prior understanding that dinosaurs are real animals distinct from fictional or commonly-confused creatures — scientific reasoning starts from accurate categorisation
- How fossils form
Curriculum fossil formation topic (GB Y3) directly underpins detailed dinosaur fossil formation understanding
Unlocks next
- Types of Fossils
Understanding formation helps contextualise different fossil types
- Rock Layers & Relative DatingREQUIRED
Must understand fossil formation in sediment before understanding rock layer sequencing
- How Palaeontologists WorkREQUIRED
Must understand fossil formation before learning field excavation methods