Morning Starters: Spring 1 - Fascinating Fossils
Did You Know?
Ida is a 47-million-year-old fossilised primate. She is also known as Darwinius masillae. She is 95% intact and so well preserved that her tissues, hair and even her stomach contents are visible. Her skeleton has features that link early primates to modern lemurs and possibly to the lineage that leads to humans.
Credit: BBC Four - Fossil Wonderlands: Nature's Hidden Treasures
Word Challenge
The word ‘primate‘ starts with the letter ‘p’ and ends with the letter ‘e’.
p _____________ e
List some other words that start and end with these letters.
Grammar Challenge
Rewrite the following sentence, including a relative clause.
The fossil collector sold Idha for one million pounds.
Example: The fossil collector, who wished to remain anonymous, sold Idha for one million pounds.
Number Challenge
If Idha’s original skeleton consisted of 210 bones and 90% of these become fossilised, how many bones were there in her fossilised remains?
Critical Thinking
If humans evolved from other animals, do you think we are still changing? How might we look in the future?
Describe in words or draw your thoughts.