Where can you find whales in the desert?

1. You take a trip to the local quarry. You walk all the way to the very bottom. At the bottom of the quarry you find the fossils shown in the image below. What kind of habitat do you think was in this location when these animals were alive?

• a. Grassland
• b. River
• c. Ocean
• d. Desert

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

2. Why did you choose this answer? What evidence do the fossils give you to support your claim?

• the fossils look like they have fins
• the fossils look like they had feathers
• I have no idea
• the fossils look like they have legs

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

3. Brianna went swimming so she could see sharks and sea turtles. When she started swimming, she saw many tree trunks on the ocean floor. What kind of habitat do you think was in this location a long time ago?

• a. Forest
• b. Grassland
• c. Ocean
• d. Desert

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

4. The tree trunks are evidence that the habitat in this location has changed. What other evidence could you look for to support this claim? Choose all that apply.

• you could look for fossils that look like plants
• you could look for fossils that look like fish
• you could look under the soil for fossils of land animals

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

5. Your friend Aiden just found a crab shell on the ground. He’s really excited because he thinks it might be a fossil. He thinks this is evidence that your town used to be an ocean a very long time ago. The picture above shows you the location where she found the crab shell. Do you think your friend Aiden found a fossil? Why or why not?

• Yes
• No

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

6. You tell Aiden that one crab shell is not enough evidence. If this habitat did use to be an ocean, what are examples of evidence that would support Aiden's claim?

• there would be fossils of other sea animals
• there would be fossils of land animals
• there would be feathers around

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Evidence is

• remains of a plant or animal from a very very long time ago
• information that can be used to reject or support an idea
• the place where a plant or animal lives
• to pay close attention to something

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Fossils are

• remains of a plant or animal from a very very long time ago
• information that can be used to reject or support an idea
• the place where a plant or animal lives
• to pay close attention to something

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

To observe is to

• remains of a plant or animal from a very very long time ago
• information that can be used to reject or support an idea
• the place where a plant or animal lives
• to pay close attention to something

A habitat is

• remains of a plant or animal from a very very long time ago
• information that can be used to reject or support an idea
• the place where a plant or animal lives
• to pay close attention to something