Fossils and Evidence of Past Life Worksheets

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Easy

Fossils and Evidence of Past Life

Name:

Date:

Grade: Grade 3

Part A: Fix the Sentence

Each sentence has an error. Rewrite it correctly on the line.

Part B: Fill in the Blank

Write the missing word or number on each line.

1. A  

2. Most fossils are found inside layers of  

3. A scientist who studies fossils is called a  

4. Fossils give us  

Part C: True or False?

Read each statement. Circle True or False.

1. A fossil is the preserved remains or trace of an organism that lived long ago.

T F

2. All fossils are animals that are still alive today.

T F

3. Fossils can help Grade 3 scientists learn about life long ago.

T F

Fossils and Evidence of Past Life

Easy

Fossils and Evidence of Past Life

Name:

Date:

Grade: Grade 3

Part A: Fix the Sentence

Each sentence has an error. Rewrite it correctly on the line.

Part B: Fill in the Blank

Write the missing word or number on each line.

1. A  

2. A  

3. Fossilized animal droppings are called  

4. A shell turned to stone is a kind of  

Part C: True or False?

Read each statement. Circle True or False.

1. A dinosaur bone turned to stone is a body fossil in Grade 3 science.

T F

2. A dinosaur footprint in rock is a body fossil.

T F

3. A burrow made by an ancient worm can become a trace fossil.

T F

Fossils and Evidence of Past Life

Easy

Fossils and Evidence of Past Life

Name:

Date:

Grade: Grade 3

Part A: Fix the Sentence

Each sentence has an error. Rewrite it correctly on the line.

Part B: Fill in the Blank

Write the missing word or number on each line.

1. In Grade 3 science, layers of mud and sand that bury a dead animal are called  

2. In Grade 3 science, tiny bits of  

3. In Grade 3 science, fossils usually take  

4. In Grade 3 science, heavy  

Part C: True or False?

Read each statement. Circle True or False.

1. In Grade 3 science, a fossil can form in one afternoon if the animal is buried fast.

T F

2. In Grade 3 science, being buried quickly by sediment helps an animal become a fossil.

T F

3. In Grade 3 science, minerals in groundwater can slowly replace bone with stone.

T F

Fossils and Evidence of Past Life

Easy

Fossils and Evidence of Past Life

Name:

Date:

Grade: Grade 3

Part A: Fix the Sentence

Each sentence has an error. Rewrite it correctly on the line.

Part B: Fill in the Blank

Write the missing word or number on each line.

1. In Grade 3 science, hardened tree sap that can trap ancient insects is called  

2. In Grade 3 science,  

3. In Grade 3 science, huge  

4. In Grade 3 science, black  

Part C: True or False?

Read each statement. Circle True or False.

1. In Grade 3 science, trilobites are still alive today in most oceans around the world.

T F

2. In Grade 3 science, insects trapped in amber can be preserved for millions of years.

T F

3. In Grade 3 science, dinosaur bones are usually found inside smooth, shiny glass.

T F

Fossils and Evidence of Past Life

Medium

Fossils and Evidence of Past Life

Name:

Date:

Grade: Grade 3

Part A: Fill in the Blank

Write the missing word or number on each line.

1. An animal that no longer lives anywhere on Earth is said to be  

2. If a sea creature fossil is found on a mountain, that area was once under  

3. Large, hairy elephants called  

4. Big reptiles known as  

5. Fossils of ferns in icy places tell us the  

6. A hardened copy of a shell made of minerals is called a  

7. The hollow shape left in rock by a shell is called a  

8. Fossils form best when organisms are quickly buried in  

9. Scientists compare fossils to  

Part B: Matching

Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.

1. Match each item to its correct answer.

Extinct

→

A scientist who studies fossils

Trace fossil

→

Footprint left in mud long ago

Body fossil

→

Bone preserved in rock

Paleontologist

→

No longer living anywhere on Earth

Fossils and Evidence of Past Life

Medium

Fossils and Evidence of Past Life

Name:

Date:

Grade: Grade 3

Part A: Fill in the Blank

Write the missing word or number on each line.

1. Fossils of fish found in a desert suggest the area was once covered by  

2. A fern leaf preserved in rock is an example of a  

3. Mammoth fossils in cold places suggest that region was once very  

4. Small ancient worm tunnels in rock are examples of  

5. An organism that has died out completely is said to be  

6. A hollow shape of a shell left in rock is a  

7. When minerals fill a mold, they make a  

8. Layers of  

9. Scientists compare fossils to living animals to tell if a species is still  

Part B: Matching

Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.

1. Match each item to its correct answer.

Sea fossils on a mountain

→

Evidence of past ice-age animals

Fern fossil in icy area

→

Area was once warmer

Mammoth fossils

→

Area was once underwater

Dinosaur footprints

→

Trace fossil showing movement

Fossils and Evidence of Past Life

Medium

Fossils and Evidence of Past Life

Name:

Date:

Grade: Grade 3

Part A: Fill in the Blank

Write the missing word or number on each line.

1. In Grade 3 science, a palm tree fossil found in the Arctic shows the  

2. In Grade 3 science, a fish fossil in a dry desert tells us a  

3. In Grade 3 science, fern fossils in coal suggest the area was once a warm, wet  

4. In Grade 3 science, dinosaur bones found in a backyard prove that dinosaurs once  

5. In Grade 3 science, coral fossils on a mountain show the peak was once under the  

6. In Grade 3 science, plants and animals that no longer live on Earth are called  

7. In Grade 3 science, fossils show us how Earth's  

8. In Grade 3 science, mammoth fossils in icy ground suggest the area had a very cold  

9. In Grade 3 science, layers of rock with fossils are read like pages of Earth's  

Part B: Matching

Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.

1. Match each item to its correct answer.

Palm fossil in Arctic

→

Once a warm climate

Fish fossil in desert

→

Once a shallow sea

Fern fossil in coal

→

Once a swampy forest

Coral fossil on mountain

→

Once an ocean floor

Fossils and Evidence of Past Life

Medium

Fossils and Evidence of Past Life

Name:

Date:

Grade: Grade 3

Part A: Fill in the Blank

Write the missing word or number on each line.

1. In Grade 3 science, a scientist who studies fossils is called a  

2. In Grade 3 science, paleontologists use small brushes and  

3. In Grade 3 science, fossils are carefully wrapped in  

4. In Grade 3 science, a place where paleontologists search for fossils is called a dig  

5. In Grade 3 science, by studying fossils, paleontologists learn about Earth's  

6. In Grade 3 science, fossils help paleontologists see how species have  

7. In Grade 3 science, the deeper a rock layer is, the  

8. In Grade 3 science, paleontologists write notes and take  

9. In Grade 3 science, museum exhibits show fossils so the  

Part B: Matching

Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.

1. Match each item to its correct answer.

Paleontologist

→

Scientist who studies fossils

Dig site

→

Place where fossils are excavated

Plaster jacket

→

Wrap that protects fossils

Rock layer

→

Stack that shows fossil age

Fossils and Evidence of Past Life

Hard

Fossils and Evidence of Past Life

Name:

Date:

Grade: Grade 3

Part A: Multiple Choice

Circle the best answer for each question.

1. Which Grade 3 choice best describes a fossil?

2. Which of these is a trace fossil in Grade 3 science?

3. Sea creature fossils on a mountain most likely mean that area was once:

4. Which animal is extinct, according to Grade 3 fossil evidence?

Part B: Fill in the Blank

Write the correct answer on each line.

1. An animal that once lived but has none alive today is called  

2. Comparing extinct creatures to  

3. Scientists can tell a fossil is not a rock by its  

4. A modern elephant and a mammoth share features, so they are  

5. Using fossils, scientists build a picture of what life was like in the  

Fossils and Evidence of Past Life

Hard

Fossils and Evidence of Past Life

Name:

Date:

Grade: Grade 3

Part A: Multiple Choice

Circle the best answer for each question.

1. Which Grade 3 item is the best fossil evidence of a past sea?

2. Which of these is NOT a fossil in Grade 3 science?

3. How do paleontologists decide what an extinct animal looked like in Grade 3 science?

4. Which choice lists only trace fossils for Grade 3?

Part B: Fill in the Blank

Write the correct answer on each line.

1. A bone from a cow that is alive today is not a  

2. The empty shape a shell leaves in rock is a  

3. When minerals fill that empty shape, they form a  

4. An organism with no living members today is called  

5. Fossils are strong  

Fossils and Evidence of Past Life

Hard

Fossils and Evidence of Past Life

Name:

Date:

Grade: Grade 3

Part A: Multiple Choice

Circle the best answer for each question.

1. In Grade 3 science, a coiled shell fossil in gray limestone most likely comes from which animal group?

2. In Grade 3 science, a fossil leaf with long veins found in coal probably lived in what place?

3. In Grade 3 science, a sharp triangle tooth fossil the size of a hand most likely came from which modern relative?

4. In Grade 3 science, a trilobite fossil tells a paleontologist the rock formed in which environment?

Part B: Fill in the Blank

Write the correct answer on each line.

1. In Grade 3 science, a fossil's  

2. In Grade 3 science, finding many different fossils in one layer shows that area had a rich  

3. In Grade 3 science, the oldest fossils are usually found in the  

4. In Grade 3 science, a living species whose ancestors appear as fossils is called a modern  

5. In Grade 3 science, a fossil that is no longer found alive anywhere on Earth is  

Fossils and Evidence of Past Life

Hard

Fossils and Evidence of Past Life

Name:

Date:

Grade: Grade 3

Part A: Multiple Choice

Circle the best answer for each question.

1. In Grade 3 science, which modern animal is most similar in body plan to an ancient trilobite?

2. In Grade 3 science, fossils show modern birds are most closely related to which ancient group?

3. In Grade 3 science, shark teeth from millions of years ago look very similar to today's teeth, which shows sharks have ___.

4. In Grade 3 science, a mammoth is considered an ancient ___ of today's elephant.

Part B: Fill in the Blank

Write the correct answer on each line.

1. In Grade 3 science, the horseshoe crab is often called a living  

2. In Grade 3 science, an earlier species that a modern animal descends from is called an  

3. In Grade 3 science, feathered dinosaur fossils support the idea that birds evolved from  

4. In Grade 3 science, comparing fossils of different ages helps scientists see how animals have  

5. In Grade 3 science, a shark tooth fossil is a hard clue because teeth are made of tough  

Fossils and Evidence of Past Life

What's Included in This Download

What You'll Learn

These fossils and evidence of past life worksheets help grade 3 students develop essential science skills through engaging activities.

How to Use These Worksheets

1. Download & Print: Click the download button to get the PDF. Print on standard 8.5" x 11" paper.
2. Start Simple: Begin with easier pages before moving to more challenging activities.
3. Daily Practice: Dedicate 10-15 minutes each day for consistent learning.
4. Use Manipulatives: Pair worksheets with physical objects like blocks or counters.
5. Provide Encouragement: Celebrate progress and effort to build confidence.
6. Check Progress: Use the included answer key to review work together.

Common Mistakes to Watch For

• Grade 3 mistake: thinking every old rock is a fossil instead of only preserved remains or traces of once-living organisms.
• Grade 3 mistake: calling footprints and burrows body fossils, when Grade 3 science labels them as trace fossils.
• Grade 3 mistake: assuming all animals in fossils still live today, forgetting that many, like dinosaurs and mammoths, are extinct.

Frequently Asked Questions

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