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Dig Into Fossils!

You are going to read about a boy who found an amazing fossil. Here are some fossil facts to learn first.

From the March/April 2026 Issue

Learning Objective: Students will build background information about fossils to prepare for the Big Read-Aloud.

Lexiles: 470L
Featured Skill: Main Idea, Vocabulary

Standards

1. What are fossils?

© 2009 Greg Willis

dino footprint

Fossils are what is left of living things from long ago. After millions of years, animal bones can turn into rock. That is one kind of fossil. A big dino footprint is another kind of fossil.

2. Where are fossils?

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Fossils can be found all over the world! Most of them are in the ground. Sometimes they are buried deep. Sometimes you can see one sticking out.

3. Why are fossils important?

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You can see dino bones at museums.

Fossils can tell us about the past. We can learn about ancient animals like dinosaurs. We can even put their bones together!

4. Who digs up fossils?

DANIL SEMYONOV/AFP via Getty Images

Paleontologists use these tools to dig out fossils.

Paleontologists are scientists who study things that lived long ago. They learn about the past by digging up fossils. But anyone can find a fossil. Kids can find them too!

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