AQA new specification-Fossils and extinction-B14.2

Fossils and extinction lesson created in accordance to the NEW AQA Specification (9-1). Designed for higher ability (trilogy/combined) class, although content can be adjusted to suit any ability. Includes: embedded videos and timers, slide animations, practice questions with answers on slides, worksheet and an interactive quiz. NB: If you are unable to play videos a URL link can be found in the slide notes.

AQA spec link: 4.6.3.5
Relevant chapter: B14 Genetics and evolution. AQA Biology trilogy edition textbook-Page 192-193
Students are required to know the following;
Fossils are the ‘remains’ of organisms from millions of years ago, which
are found in rocks. Fossils may be formed:
• from parts of organisms that have not decayed because one or more
of the conditions needed for decay are absent
• when parts of the organism are replaced by minerals as they decay
•as preserved traces of organisms, such as footprints, burrows and
rootlet traces.
Many early forms of life were soft-bodied, which means that they
have left few traces behind. What traces there were have been mainly
destroyed by geological activity. This is why scientists cannot be certain about how life began on Earth.
WS 1.3 Appreciate why the fossil record is incomplete.