1. By the end of class, you need to be able to
Describe the major Earth Eras and the types of life it was characterized by.
Identify the major earth events that ended each of the Earth Eras
Differentiate between the three different types of rocks and explain how rocks change from one type to another

2. Geological Time Scale
A Journey through the History of the Earth

3. Geologic Time
Eon – the largest division of geologic time, comprising of two or more eras
Era – large period of time described by the dominant life forms that were present at the time.
Periods – smaller blocks of time based on types of fossils found within each era

4. Eras of the Earth Precambrian Eon Hadean, Archaen and Proterozoic Era
Paleozoic Era
Cambrian, Ordocician, Silurian, Devonian, Carboniferous, Permian Periods
Mesozoic Era
Triassic, Jurassic, Cretaceous Periods
Cenozoic Era
Tertiary and Quanternary Periods

5. Eras of the Earth

6. Precambrian Eon 4.6 bya - 542 mya Consists of 3 eras
Hadean: violent world (think Hades)
Archaean: cooler, ocean formed and land is forming, first prokaryotes (bacteria) 3 bya
Proterozoic: 2 super continents, atmosphere forming, first eukaryotes 2 bya, multicellular organisms start to form
Ended with global ice age

7. Paleozoic Era “ancient life” 542 mya to 251 mya Changing atmosphere
Life becomes more complex and moves from the oceans to land
Giant volcanic eruptions ended the Era, almost 95% of life died

8. Mesozoic Era “middle life” 251 mya to 65 mya
Pangea formed and began to break up (plate tectonics)
Reptiles rule the earth… Dinosaurs! And land mammals
Climate is warm
Asteroid extinction

9. Cenozoic Era “recent life” 65 mya to present Age of mammals
Earth is beginning to look like it does today
Modern Humans appeared 40,000 years ago

10. Rock Cycle
Evidence for the evolution of life on earth can be found in rocks and fossils.

11. Drawing Geologic Time Proportionally
Precambrian Eon = ________ years Paleozoic Era = __________ years Mesozoic Era = __________ years Cenozoic Era = __________ years Total Age of Earth = ________ years

12. Earth Era – Mini Posters
Split your paper in 4 different parts
Title each section
What did each era look like?
What did life look like?
Foreshadow major extinction events

13. Personal Timeline Create a visual timeline of your life.
Include at least 10 major events that have happened in your life so far
Include at least 10 major events that you see happening in your future
Include pictures
Be sure you draw your timeline proportionately
Due Friday 2/24/17