Geologic time is the chronology of the earths formation, changes, development, and existence. Time units on the scale are based on the appearance or disappearance of types of organisms such as trilobites, index fossils that lived during specific periods of time. He classified geologic time into primitive or primary, secondary, and tertiary periods based on observations of geology in northern italy. Paleontology lesson 3 its a matter of time arizona science standards 52404 grade 4 grade 5 grade 6 grade 7 grade 8. Your students will read about the geologic time scale and learn about eons, eras, periods, and epochs. Geologic time scale station lab students will love you for providing them with a handson experience when learning about the geologic time scale of earth. Geologic time is divided into four major subdivisions. Understanding geologic time introduces students to geologic time, the evidence for events in earths history, relative and absolute dating techniques, and the significance of the geologic time scale. Ppt presentation on the geologic time scale that i. These changes are driven by varying geological and environmental conditions.
This may sound confusing, but looking at a real geologic time scale and completing this activity will help. Theres just too much of, of kind of the dry side of science without getting hands on being able to do the experiment. They discuss how long humans have been around on earth. Use the geologic time scale to the right to find the missing dates and fill in the blanks under the. Gsa geologic time scale geological society of america. Geologists first used relative age dating principles to chart the chronological order of rocks around the world. Students learn about fossilswhat they are, how they are formed, and why scientists and engineers care about them. The geologic time scale is a record of the major events and diversity of life forms present in earths history. To introduce students to the vastness of geologic time and the concept of scale. After the video, i navigate to the geologic time website i created for this miniproject. At gsa youll find the resources, confidence, and connections you need to reach fulfilling new heights in your geoscience career.
They will work together to create their own geologic time scale. The students will also be interacting with their journals using inb templates for the geologic time scale. The dot scale of geologic time is adapted from an idea by charly zuppann of the indiana geological survey, bloomington, indiana the kentucky geological survey is a research and publicservice center of the university of kentucky. Students should use the diagram to recreate the geological time scale.
The geologic time scale lesson includes a powerpoint with activities scattered throughout to keep the students engaged. After all, evolutionary change occurs too slowly to be measured in days, months, or years. It wasnt until the advent of radiometric age dating techniques in the middle 1900s that reliable numerical dates could be assigned to the previously. To understand evolution, humans must think in units of time much larger than those we use to define our lives. This science printable challenges students to identify the era cenozoic, mesozoic, paleozoic, or precambrian in which each organism listed in the table first appeared on earth. Meter stick or measuring tape masking tape string or yarn at least 5 meters long event print out pdf colored printer paper not required. The exercise is very effective at letting them get a sense of how long geologic time is, and how recently. Stories from the fossil record provides students with a basic understanding of how fossils can be used to interpret the past. The history of the earth we have to learn in california. Geological time agso geoscienceaustralia 6geologists measure time in millions ofyears. Students will also measure the relative ages of rock layers and identify gaps in the rock record. Seventh grade lesson geologic time mini project betterlesson. Ppt presentation on the geologic time scale that i use.
The term tertiary was first used by giovanni arduino during the mid18th century. Geologic time scale lesson plan for 9th 10th grade. An inclass student activity led by the teacher that helps students understand linear timelines through. Geologic time scale worksheet teachers pay teachers. Swajkowski intro after completing the geologic time scale lab, we now know that there were many eons, eras, and periods during earths history. Geological timeline activity manhattan beach unified. The diagram to the right is a visual representation of how scientists break up time. Geologic time scale teacher resources lesson planet. Although this is an individual project, the final product is collaborative. This geologic time scale lesson plan is suitable for 9th 10th grade. Theyuse a geological time scale ortime line to show the age ofthe earth from its beginning some 4,560 million years ago, to the present day. The geological time scale is used by geologists, paleontologists, and other earth scientists to describe the timing and relationships of events that have occurred during earths history.
Informative project for ess regarding the geoligical time scale, and the beginning of earth itself. Explanations of stability and change in natural or designed systems can be constructed by examining the changes over time and forces at different scales, including the atomic scale. Thousands and millions of years are used on a geological time scale. Geologic time scale lesson plan for 9th 10th grade lesson. Evidence of change section 2 date skill activity analyzing data the geologic time scale use the information from the diagram below to answer the accompanying questions. A system of chronological dating that relates geological strata to time and is used by geologists, paleontologists, and other earth. Later a fourth period, the quaternary, was applied. Video showcasing a fun way to teach middle school science. The rock strata layers record major historical events in earths history. Fossils and geologic time in this unit, we will learn about how fossil evidence show that earths surface, environment and climate have changed over time.
Students explored the life has a history web site to explore the geologic time scale, fossils, and dinosaurs. Print and go geologic time scale workshop activity and reading passage set for your earth history unit. Geologic time activity worksheet ottawa hills high school. Kentucky geological survey 228 mmrb, university of kentucky lexington, kentucky 405060107 phone. Chapter 12 section 4 eras of the geologic time scale paleozoic amesozoic acenozoic 4. These layers collectively makeup the geologic time scale or fossil record and document the existence, diversity, extinction, and evolution of organisms. If your students are not familiar with the geologic time scale, relative dating, or absolute dating, have them perform this short activity. Be able to place the eras in the correct order from oldest to most recent. The geologic time scale began to take shape in the 1700s. The oldest time interval is at the bottom and the youngest is at the top. Students will use their knowledge of earth science to answer questions about the geologic time scale. Time, space, and energy phenomena can be observed at various scales using models to study systems that are too large or too small. The geologic time scale is an essential tool for understanding the history of earth and the evolution of life.
Features of the fossil record w is a list of some of the significant features of the fossil record as we. Teaching geological time eras to students with help from this. The earth was markedly different during each one of these periods of time, but how different was our planetary home during these times as compared to now. Claim testing geology and the earths formation our mission is to provide a free, worldclass education to anyone, anywhere. Each inb activity is designed to help students compartmentalize information for a greater understanding of the concept. Throughout the activity i have a quiz going on where the students calculate percentages of earth history for major geologic events, and compare it to their own ages. What do geologists call the period of time before the cambrian period. Students are told that they have been hired by a travel agency that is promoting travel throug. Be careful to mark down when that event began, not when it ended. In the early development of the study of geology, the periods were. The chinle formation in the painted desert began forming over 200 million years ago.
To make the geological time scale easier to use, geologists have divided the age ofthe earth. Understand the scale of earth history in relation to human timescales. Teaching geological time eras to students with help from. Deep thinking over geologic time is a sevenpart unit consisting of hands on activities and graphical analysis designed to investigate the role of fossils and rock layers in determining the earths age and geologic history.
Ppt presentation on the geologic time scale that i use to introduce this activity. Using studentcreated metaphors to comprehend geologic time. In this activity, students in groups of three will construct a vertical representation of a geologic time scale and research facts, events, and organisms that differentiate between time scale eras, periods, and epochs. Learners construct a geologic timeline the size of a football field.
Geological timeline activity significant developments and extinctions of plant and. Geological timeline challenge paleontological society. Unraveling time and the earths biologic history are arguably geology s most important contributions to humanity. Students recreate and comprehend the geologic time scale. The site also provides preposts tests, scavenger hunts, and focus questions on the assessment page of the teachers guide page. This lesson plan helps students learn the geological time eras that the planet earth has gone through. A table provides the names of eons, eras, periods and epochs.