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Knowledge and Skills Statement

Earth and space. The student knows that there are recognizable patterns and processes on Earth.

a natural fuel such as coal, oil, or gas, formed in the geological past from the remains of living organisms

regular sequences that can be found throughout nature

rock that has formed through the deposition and solidification of sediment through the processes of compaction, cementation by heat, and pressure

Research

Bobrowsky, Matt. “Science 101 Q: Where Do Fossil Fuels Come From?” Science and Children 57, no.3 (October 2019): 63–65. 
http://www.nsta.org/science-scope/science-scope-october-2019/where-do-fossil-fuels-come.

Summary: Fossil fuels are described in this article as energy sources that were formed when prehistoric animals and plants died. The author includes an activity to simulate the formation of fossils, using the pressure from layers of different materials, like books, to mimic the pressure that mud, rock, and sand put on layers of sediment and dead animals when fossils are formed. This can also give student an idea of what sedimentary rocks look like. The formation of fossil fuels, like oil, takes millions of years. Teachers can replicate this process by putting chicken or tune on a bottle along with sand and lake water. A balloon is then added to the top so students can see evidence of gas being produced. Students can make predictions about what will happen and make daily observations. The class can then discuss what gas caused the balloon in their experiment to inflate.