Explore: Evolution of Wales Gallery
Ancient Coal Forests
Walk through the Evolution of Wales gallery until you find a forest scene.
You are looking into an ancient forest. Wales looked like this 300 million years
ago.
1.
2.
This forest was growing…
before the dinosaurs lived
How many types of creatures can you see in the display?
Draw two of them here and write their names under them
This is a
3.
after the dinosaurs lived
This is a
Have a good look at the insects. They are...
bigger than the insects in Wales today
smaller than the insects in Wales today
4.
Try to think of another difference between this ancient forest and a
woodland in Wales today. Complete this sentence:
A woodland in Wales
ancient coal forest
www.museumwales.ac.uk/learning
BUT an
Have a look at the plants in the display. This is a picture of an ancient plant
called a horsetail.
5. We have found some fossils from this plant. Label the fossils from its
leaves and the ones from its stem.
The weather 300 million years ago was warmer and wetter than it is today.
6. Find a fossil that looks like this drawing. It is related to a plant that is alive
today. Which one?
A daisy
An oak tree
A fern
7. The ground that the plants were growing on was…
Wet and swampy
Dry and sandy
8. When the plants died they built up layers of peat which eventually
formed a rock called