Geologic Time

Description

The fascinating lesson helps students realize Geologic time is a relative concept and can be better understood when comparing it to a shorter time frame, like a day, month, or year.  The lesson includes the major eras along with the periods, as well as important events in each.  Depending on the level of your students, you may or may not require the students to memorize each time-period; however, identifying the order of events would be helpful.

Sample Classroom Procedure / Teacher Instruction: 

1. Ask: How old is the Earth?  How long do you believe living organisms have occupied the Earth?
2. Allow for responses and discussion. Encourage students to think about the question before answering.  Ask:  Do you believe there has always been life on Earth?
3. Allow for responses and discussion. Ask:  How many years do you think is a long time?
4. Allow for responses and discussion. Introduce Geologic Time.
5. Distribute Geologic Time content pages. Read and review the information with the students.  Use the additional resources to enhance understanding.
6. Distribute Activity page. Read and review the instructions.  Pair students.  Distribute supplies.  Guide students to creating a realistic scale for the time line.
7. During the work, assign each pair of students a time-period to further research. Allow access to the Internet.  Remind students to find additional information that was not included in the content pages.  They will present the information to the class following completion of all time lines.
8. Once all students have completed the time lines and research, scheduled each pair of students for a class presentation. Allow about 2 to 3 minutes for each presentation.
9. Display the completed time lines.
10. Distribute Practice page. Check and review the students’ responses.

Common Core State Standards: 

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.3      CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.5   CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.3   CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.7

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.5.3      CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.2   CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.3   CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.7

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.6.2     CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6.4   CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6.10

Class Sessions (45 minutes): At least 2 class sessions

Additional Resources:

• http://www.kidsgeo.com/geology-for-kids/0030-geologic-time.php
• http://www.kidsdiscover.com/teacherresources/walk-time/
• https://www.uky.edu/KGS/education/geologicscale.htm (links)
• http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/prehistoric-world/prehistoric-time-line/
• http://science.pppst.com/geologicaltime.html (PPTs)

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