How Were Fossil Fuels Formed? Let’s Find Out!

Fossil fuels were formed millions of years ago when plants and animals died, were buried under layers of sediment, and slowly transformed under intense heat and pressure. Over time, this process turned organic material into coal, oil, and natural gas, all of which are stored in porous sedimentary rocks deep underground. 

While it seems like a simple enough concept, your students might struggle with such an abstract concept. This year, you can help your students build a deeper understanding of how sedimentary rocks form and how fossil fuels are created and stored with this set of printable science task cards. 

Rocks and Fossil Fuels Task Cards

This Rocks and Fossil Fuels Task Card set includes 24 engaging cards that focus on the properties of sedimentary rocks and the processes that allow fossil fuels—coal, oil, and natural gas—to form and be stored underground. Students will:

• Identify characteristics of sedimentary rocks involved in fossil fuel formation
• Identify methods for retrieving fossil fuels from underground
• Review the steps in fossil fuel creation over millions of years
• Explain how permeable and porous rocks store oil and natural gas

The cards include a mixture of multiple choice, fill in the blank, and short answer questions. A recording sheet and answer key included for easy checking!

Download This Fossil Fuel Formation Activity 

Getting started is easy! All you need to do is click the dropdown arrow on the Download button and choose between the printable PDF and editable Google Slides resource file. Print, cut, and hand out the cards and recording sheets, and you’re ready to add rigorous, curriculum-aligned science review to your day.

This Fossil Fuel Formation Activity is great for reviewing key concepts before a test or supporting students who need extra review.

This resource was created by Brittany Collins, a teacher in Indiana and Teach Starter collaborator.

More Resources on Fossil Fuel Formation for Kids

Keep the learning going with more geology and Earth science activities! Pair these Fossil Fuel Formation Task Cards with resources such as:

[resource:5177379] [resource:5155259] [resource:5160643]