The Fossil Record and Evolution
Geology · Year 10 · Earth's History and the Fossil Record · 2.º Período

The Fossil Record and Evolution

Examining how fossils are formed and what they reveal about the history of life on Earth. Pupils will explore key transitional fossils and mass extinction events.

National Curriculum Attainment TargetsEduqas GCSE Geology, Key Idea 7: Past Life and Climates (Evolution of life)National Curriculum in England: Science KS4, Biology - Evolution, inheritance and variation (Evidence for evolution including fossils)

About This Topic

Examining how fossils are formed and what they reveal about the history of life on Earth. Pupils will explore key transitional fossils and mass extinction events.

Key Questions

  1. Under what conditions do fossils form?
  2. What can the fossil record tell us about past environments?
  3. How do mass extinctions alter the course of evolutionary history?

More in Earth's History and the Fossil Record

Deep Time and Stratigraphy

Understanding the principles of stratigraphy and radiometric dating to construct the geological timescale. Pupils will learn how geologists read the rock record like a history book.

2 methodologies

Palaeoclimatology and Historical Climate Change

Investigating how geological evidence such as ice cores and sedimentary rocks reveal past climate shifts. Pupils will compare historical natural climate variations with contemporary changes.

2 methodologies