Fossils Lesson (9/8)

​Paleontologists

Paleontologists are scientists who study fossils.

Extinct

When a plant or an animal is extinct, it does not exist on the Earth anymore.For example, dinosaurs are extinct.

Organisms

Living things such as plants and animals are called organisms.

Decay

Decay happens when an organism dies, is slowly rotting, and finally,no longer exists.

Preserve

When paleontologists preserve a fossil, they are keeping it safe from being destroyed.

Fossils

Fossils are the hardened remains of a living thing that died long ago.

Fossils can be used to understand past events and environments.

For animal or plant remains to have become "fossilized" they must go through a process that preserves them for millions of years after they have died.

Using science, we have been able to learn about the plants and animals that were on Earth long ago, even of they are extinct now.