1. Earth’s History in Geologic Time
By Dan Cyre, Robert Daub, and Beth Lang

2. Enduring Understandings
Geologic time is not uniform.
Earth’s history is preserved in rock.

3. Essential Question
How is the Earth different today than in the past?

4. Standards Addressed:
GR understands that earth processes observed today (including movement of lithospheric plates and changes in atmospheric conditions) are similar to those that occurred in the past; earth history is also influenced by occasional catastrophes, such as the impact of a comet or asteroid
GR understands geological time is used to understand the earth’s past

5. Sequence Pre-test Essential Question Whiteboard Discussion
Geologic Time Scale Activity
Fossils Activity
Fossils Worksheet
Introduction to Relative and Absolute Dating

6. Sequence Cont.
Relative Dating Worksheet
Review
Post-test

7. Time Line (50 min. class)
Day 1: Pre-test, Bell Work (Whiteboard Essential Question, Geologic Time Scale Activity Research
Day 2: Construct Geologic Time Scale, Whiteboard Discussion, Earth Year Calendar
Day 3: Fossil Inquiry: samples, Interactive Fossil Museum, Fossils WS

8. Time Line (cont.)
Day 4: Fossils Whiteboard Discussion, Introduce Relative and Absolute Dating, Relative Dating Worksheet
Day 5: Relative Dating Whiteboard Discussion, Test Review
Day 6: Post-test

9. Bell Work Introduce students to Essential Question
Have students whiteboard answers
Share with class
Check for background knowledge

10. Geologic Time Scale Activity
Students research Web sites to find characteristics specific to geologic time periods.
Scale is discussed with students—relationship with million
Students will construct a time scale on adding machine tape.

11. Geologic Time Scale Activity (cont.)
Students will whiteboard findings from activity—refer back to bell work whiteboard discussion
Extension Activity: Students will relate findings from geologic time scale to project the timeline to an earth calendar year. (Jan. 1—Earth formed, Dec :59:58.47-Establishment of US)

12. Fossils Activity
Students examine fossil samples—discuss the type of organisms the fossils represent and conditions of formation
Further inquiry with Interactive Fossil Museum

13. Fossils Worksheet
Students read through material to discover formation of fossils, specific fossil types, and fossil record
Lab groups will each take a section of questions and whiteboard answers
Class discussion using whiteboard answers

14. Introduction to Relative and Absolute Dating
Read through “How Old is that Rock?”
Check for understanding—ask students to give examples of relative and absolute age; know term half-life

15. Relative Dating Worksheet
Students will read through Relative Dating selection; class discussion for key science concepts (law of superposition, extrusion, intrusion, unconformity, etc.)
Students will work on questions in lab groups; whiteboard response
Class discussion with whiteboard answers

16. Test Review Crossword for vocabulary terms
Classroom Performance System quiz format for other questions