History of Earth: Geologic Eras of Time

Index Introduction Resources Task Evaluation Process Teacher’s Page

Introduction The grand, expansive history of our planet covers some 4.6 BILLION YEARS! The scope & scale of such a timeframe can be mind boggling, but our Earth’s history of Biology, Geology & Climate change over the eons is amazing and well worth understanding! Are you READY to learn MORE?!

Task In this WebQuest, you will be working in teams, each member with specific roles, and your group will pick one of the Era’s of Geologic Time to study in more detail. At the conclusion of this WebQuest, our culminating activity will include an opportunity for your group to shine as experts on your chosen ‘Era’ of Geologic Time.

Process Steps in this WebQuest Activity: Day 1: After an introduction to this capstone project, students will complete an individual online interactive tutorial about the Geologic Time Scale & key highlights in the Earth’s development, and will then complete the form provided. Day 2: Groups of 3 to 4 students will be formed & each group will select a particular Geologic Era or Time Period from the list provided by the teacher. Groups will then confer about and assign the 4 key roles for members (Biologist, Botanist, Geologist & Meteorologist) Begin researching info on Resource links provided and record Era/Period info on note-taking forms provided (each ‘Expert’ will focus on his/her own specialty, so ‘divide and conquer’). Groups continue research phase and begin work on entering info on PowerPoint template for their groups info.

Process, continued Day 3: Groups complete research phase and complete work on entering info (typed info content and any pictures you wish to include (2 pictures inserted for each ‘expert’s slide’!) on PowerPoint template for their info. Each group must also print off their PowerPoint Slides for use in Day 4’s activity. Each group’s slides will be posted on a tall wooden stake for use on Day 4.

Online Resources This is NOT an exhaustive listing – this is meant to get you started in your research! Feel free to utilize appropriate search engines for both text-based information and for images, pictures or clip art to insert. Geologic Time Scale: http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/education/explorations/tours/geotime/guide/geologictimescale.html http://www.agiweb.org/news/evolution/geologictime.html http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/help/timeform.html Overview of Earth History: http://www.windows2universe.org/earth/past/geologic_time.html&edu=high http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/beta/evolution/brief-history-life.html Precambrian Time Links: Proterozoic Era: http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/precambrian/proterozoic.html Archaean Era: http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/precambrian/archaean.html Hadean Era: http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/precambrian/hadean.html

Online Resources This is NOT an exhaustive listing – this is meant to get you started in your research! Feel free to utilize appropriate search engines for both text-based information and for images, pictures or clip art to insert. Paleozoic Era Links: http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/earth/geology/hist_paleozoic.html&edu=mid http://www.windows2universe.org/earth/geology/hist_paleozoic.html&edu=high http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/paleozoic/paleozoic.html Mezozoic Era Links: http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/earth/geology/hist_mesozoic.html http://www.windows2universe.org/earth/geology/hist_mesozoic.html&edu=high http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/mesozoic/mesozoic.html Cenozoic Era Links: http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/earth/geology/hist_cenozoic.html http://www.windows2universe.org/earth/geology/hist_cenozoic.html&edu=high http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/cenozoic/cenozoic.html

Evaluation (Rubric) Criteria Excellent Good Satisfactory Fair 9 - 10 points 6 - 8 3 – 5 0 - 2 Grammar, Spelling, Mechanics There are no grammatical or spelling errors. Capitalization, punctuation correct throughout. There are 1 or 2 grammatical, spelling or capitalization / punctuation errors. There are no more than 5 grammatical, spelling or capitalization / punctuation errors throughout There are more than 5 grammatical, spelling or capitalization / punctuation errors throughout Attractiveness and Organization The PowerPoint has exceptionally attractive formatting. Well-organized information. The content and ideas are presented in a unique and interesting way. The PowerPoint has attractive formatting and well-organized information. Presentation shows some originality and inventiveness. The PowerPoint has well-organized information. Presentation shows an attempt at originality and inventiveness The PowerPoint's formatting and organization of material are confusing to the reader. Presentation shows very little attempt at original thought. Informational Interest and Based in Fact The PowerPoint contains facts, figures, and/or information that make the brochure exceptionally interesting to reader and is based on fact. The PowerPoint contains facts, figures, and/or information that make the articles interesting to readers. The PowerPoint contains some facts or figures but is marginally interesting to read. The PowerPoint does not contain facts or figures that might make it interesting to read nor provides much information based on fact. Graphics / Pictures Graphics go well with the text and there is a good mix of text and graphics. Graphics go well with the text, but there are so many that they distract from the text. Graphics go well with the text, but there are too few and the brochure seems "text-heavy" or not enough text and it seems “picture-heavy”. Graphics do not go with the accompanying text or appear to be randomly chosen. Cooperative Work Partners show exceptional respect for one another's ideas, divide the work fairly, and show a commitment to quality work and support for each other. Partners show respect for one another's ideas and divide the work fairly. There is commitment toward quality work and support of one another. Partners show respect for one another's ideas and divide the work fairly. There is little evidence of a commitment toward quality work in the group. Partners argue or are disrespectful of other's ideas and input. Criticism is not constructive nor is support offered. One person mostly does the work.