Fossil Assessment

14.B Construct an explanation based upon prior investigations and evidence that gradual changes have caused fish fossils to become exposed on mountains due to erosion (accumulating) over time and those gradual changes will lead to the destruction of the marine fossils due to erosional processes over time.

14.B Construct an explanation based upon prior investigations and evidence that gradual changes have caused fish fossils to become exposed on mountains due to erosion (accumulating) over time and those gradual changes will lead to the destruction of the marine fossils due to erosional processes over time.

Look for students to identify that the slow process of erosion on the mountain sides has caused the marine fossils to become exposed over time, and over time the currently exposed marine fossils will be eroded away, exposing matter from underneath the marine fossils. See Key for the Fossil Assessment for further guidance.

Revisit science ideas listed by the class as evidence that can help to explain the sea lily fossil on Mt. Everest. Go over each piece of evidence independently and ask the students to explain how the data helps to answer the question.

Look back at erosional data from Lesson 13 and have the students consider the changes to the fossil over time with the proposed erosional rate.

Ask students to consider if the mountain range will always be as tall as it is, and if it will ever look like Mt. Mitchell. Determine that eventually it will erode away once uplift ceases, and along with it, the marine fossil will also erode away.