1. Scientific Investigation
A Mammoth Discovery!!

2. Here’s the story …
One day, an awesome Earth and Space Science Teacher was having some land excavated so that he could begin building his house. While digging through the soil this wonderful, charismatic, young teacher made an exciting discovery … the tusk of a Wooly Mammoth! Upon further investigation, this incredibly intelligent teacher unearthed the entire skeleton of this ancient elephant. Upon doing so, the delightful teacher decided to determine the relative and absolute age of the mammoth remains.

3. Student Task
Write up a laboratory procedure that could be followed to determine the relative and absolute age of the remains
This write up will include: background, objectives, materials, procedure, and concluding questions.
NOTE: AT NO POINT WILL YOU ACTUALLY PERFORM THIS EXPERIMENT

4. Background
In paragraph form, describe how relative and absolute age can be determined
Discussion should include (but is not limited to):
Laws of relative dating
Radiometric dating
Carbon dating
Index fossils
The background should be NO LESS THAN 1 page in length (double spaced, 12 pt, Times New Roman font)

5. Objectives These are the goals of the lab
Things that someone who completes the lab should be able to do
A MINIMUM of THREE objectives is required
Each should be bulleted
***This section does NOT have to be in sentence form***

6. Materials
In a bulleted list (not sentence form), name all materials that will be required for completion of the lab
Ask yourself several questions:
What materials do I need?
How much of each material do I need?
Is there any equipment necessary?
Do I need safety goggles or gloves

7. Procedure
You will write the exact sequence of steps required for completion of the laboratory exercises
Each step should be numbered
A MINIMUM of EIGHT steps is required
It is conceivable that more than EIGHT steps will be necessary
Be sure to describe the steps necessary for determining both the RELATIVE & ABSOLUTE age

8. Conclusion
The final part of the lab write-up is to develop THREE questions to be answered by someone completing the lab
Each question should be related to the objectives you listed at the beginning of the lab
Questions are designed to ensure that the scientist understands his or her results
Questions should be numbered and in sentence form

9. Grading The project will be worth 40 points
I will be grading just: Content & Organization
(this means I will NOT grade grammar / conventions)
Due: THURSDAY FEBRUARY 16, 2012
(this is NEXT Thursday in case you are unaware)