The Fossil Record

Lab Brief #4

🎯 Your mission

Learn the rule. Then catch nature using it.

⚡ The twist

Nature loves to surprise the careful watcher.

What you'll learn

The fossil record provides evidence for evolution by showing how organisms have changed over time. Transitional fossils show features of both ancestral and descendant species.

Key words

fossil
The preserved remains or print of a plant or animal from long ago.
species
A group of living things that can have young together.

Make a hypothesis first

Before you start: write down what you think will happen, and why.

Say your guess out loud — then find out if you were right.

Step 1 of 4 · Read

Look at the vocabulary words and write a definition for each in your own words.

Step 2 of 4 · Do

Compare and contrast prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Create a Venn diagram showing their similarities and differences.

Step 3 of 4 · Observe

Look for patterns in your observations.

Step 4 of 4 · Record

Make a graph or chart showing your results.

Question 1 of 2

What provides evidence for evolution?

How sure are you?😐 maybe

Question 2 of 2

How many chromosomes do human body cells have?

How sure are you?😐 maybe

Mind = blown

🔬 The more you look, the more nature shows you.

Nice work!

You got 0 of 2 right.

All lessons

🎯

Next Smart Experiment

We'll pick an experiment that matches exactly how you're thinking right now.

✨ More to explore

🌍 Where you see this in real life: This shows up in your everyday life more than you'd think.

🏆 Stretch challenge (try it this week): Try one experiment in real life this week — even a tiny one.

👨‍👩‍👧 For the dinner table: “What's the most surprising thing you learned today?”

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