Fossils and Dinosaurs Flashcards

Grade 3 · Science · Flashcards

Review the key vocabulary for understanding fossils, dinosaurs, and how scientists study ancient life.

Flashcards

Fossil: The preserved remains or traces of an organism from the distant past, found in rock.
Trace fossil: A fossil that shows evidence of an animal's activity, such as footprints, burrows, or bite marks.
Paleontologist: A scientist who studies fossils to learn about organisms that lived long ago.
Sediment: Tiny particles of rock, sand, or mud deposited by water or wind that can preserve fossils.
Sedimentary rock: Rock formed from layers of sediment that have been compressed and cemented over time; where most fossils are found.
Extinct: A species that has completely died out and no longer exists on Earth.
Dinosaur: A group of ancient reptiles that lived from about 230 to 66 million years ago.
Herbivore: An animal that eats only plants. Examples: Triceratops, Brachiosaurus.
Carnivore: An animal that eats only other animals. Examples: T. rex, Velociraptor.
Asteroid: A large rocky object in space. A massive asteroid impact is thought to have caused the mass extinction of non-bird dinosaurs.
Paleozoic Era: An ancient time period in Earth's history from about 541 to 252 million years ago, before the age of dinosaurs.
Mesozoic Era: The era from about 252 to 66 million years ago, when dinosaurs dominated the land.
Excavation: The careful digging and removal of fossils from rock by paleontologists.