In three to five sentences, explain how the fossil record provides evidence for the idea of natural selection. For a seventh grader

The fossil record shows us that organisms have changed over time, and this change is called evolution. Natural selection is a process where organisms with helpful traits are more likely to survive and reproduce. When we look at fossils, we can see which traits were beneficial for survival in the past. The fossils of different species show us how certain traits became more common over time, which supports the idea of natural selection as a driving force in evolution.