Human skulls: using evidence from the past (non-statutory) | Science

Starter quiz

Which of these is a skull?

A ✓

B

C

D
Where is a human’s brain?

inside the skull ✓

inside the rib cage

inside the pelvis
Which arrow is pointing to the jaw on this skull?

A

B

C ✓
The remains or imprints of living things that are sometimes preserved in rock are called ...

'fossils' ✓
What is the purpose of a skeleton?

support, digestion and movement

support, protection and movement ✓

movement, digestion and sensing the world around us

movement, protection and sensing the world around us
What are the ancestors of living things?

the offspring of a living thing

a thing that will live many years in the future

a thing which lived in the past as part of your family ✓

living things that are alive at the same time

We call the time period before written records of human life began ______ times.

'prehistoric' ✓
Two of these skulls are from prehistoric times, one is a modern day skull. Which is the modern day skull?

A

B ✓

C
What can scientists who study prehistoric humans use to gather evidence about how our ancestors have changed over time?

photographs of prehistoric humans

diaries of prehistoric humans

fossils of prehistoric humans ✓
How long has it taken for the shape of human skulls to change so that the jaw is smaller and there is more room for a larger brain?

decades

centuries

millions of years ✓
Which of these changes have been observed in the skulls of humans over millions of years?

changes in skull shape ✓

changes in material

changes in jaw size ✓

changes in number of facial features

changes in brain size ✓
What do scientists suggest is a possible reason for modern human skulls having smaller jaws and teeth than those from millions of years ago?

Our diet is made up of softer, more processed food now. ✓

Our diet is made up of harder, more chewy food now.

Our teeth are better looked after by dentists now.

Our teeth are brushed more thoroughly now.

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Scientists who study humans depend on fossil evidence to help them learn about how our ancestors have changed over time.
Human skulls can show changes in characteristics such as: skull shape, brain and jaw size.
Modern day skulls show differences, suggested by scientists, linked to humans chewing softer, processed food.

Pupils may think that humans as we know them have always looked the same as they do now.

Use the images of skulls in the slide deck to clearly show how humans’ appearance has changed over many thousands of years.

Prehistoric - Prehistoric times are time periods which came before written records began.
Fossil - A fossil is the remains or imprint of living things that are sometimes preserved in rock.
Evidence - Evidence is information which helps us to prove that something is true or not true.
Ancestor - Your ancestor lived in the past and is directly related to you.
Skull - The skull is the name for the bones of the head.