Similar fossils found on continents separated by oceans...
How can this happen? What's your prediction?
Long ago, Earth had two super-continents. Click to explore:
💭 What do you think happened next to these landmasses?
Click each fossil to discover its name and where it's found:
Click continents to see which fossils are found there:
What pattern do you notice? Type your observation:
Drag the continents to reconstruct Gondwana. Use fossil distribution as clues!
Glossopteris Fossil
Ancient fern plant
Cannot survive ocean crossings
Requires specific climate
On which continents has Glossopteris been found?
Mesosaurus fossils found ONLY in South America and Africa:
Why is this significant?
Alfred Wegener's process: OBSERVATION → EVIDENCE → INFERENCE
Similar fossils on different continents
Matching fossil distributions worldwide
Continents were once connected
How does this evidence support continental drift? Explain:
Watch how continents moved over millions of years:
🤔 What happens next? Predict:
Before watching: What do you already know about plate tectonics?
Educational Animation: How Fossils Prove Continental Drift
(Educational content about fossil evidence and continental movement)
Question 1: What type of evidence is most convincing for continental drift?
Question 2: How long ago did Gondwana break apart?
Match each fossil to its distribution. Click a fossil, then click its locations:
FOSSILS
LOCATIONS
Reconstruct Gondwana. Click the continent labels to place them on the map:
Available Labels:
📌 CLAIM:
"Some continents were once connected and have moved apart."
📍 EVIDENCE: Name two fossil groups that support this claim:
🔗 REASONING: Explain how your evidence supports the claim:
Answer these three questions to complete the mission:
💭 Final Reflection:
Which piece of evidence from today's lesson convinced you most that continents move?
✨ Lesson Complete! ✨
Matching fossils on continents now separated by oceans provide powerful
evidence that these landmasses were once connected and later moved apart.