The Earth’s geologic time scale tells a story about the inception of life and the rise and fall of species, showing life is fragile in the face of gradual and sudden changes to the environment. In this unit, students will learn how rock and fossil observations in combination with radioactive dating techniques have been used to construct a geologic time scale. Students will also wrap their heads around the vastness of geologic time and the brevity of human existence by generating their own geologic time scale analogies. Finally, students will create a geologic timeline that includes the mapping of mass extinctions throughout Earth’s history and consider whether human behavior might lead to the next mass extinction.

This unit includes a performance task, Regents-aligned questions, and is organized into inquiry-based 5E model plans. It is part of the New Visions Earth Science Curriculum.
Scope and sequence connection: Earth Science: Geology: Earth's history.

Students explore how Earth’s rocks and other materials provide a record of its history through this activity. Shared by the United States Geologic Survey.

Scope and Sequence connection: 7:1 Geology; 8:1 Reproduction, Heredity and Evolution; Earth Science: Geology: Earth's history.
Performance standard: 1.2j.

Dr. John Shea demonstrates the two main principles in the study of rock layers: superposition and association.  (2 min.)

Scope and sequence connection: Earth Science: Geology: Earth's history.
Performance standard: 1.2j.

These interactives from McDougal Little encourage students to investigate some characteristics of Earth's past. 

Scope and sequence connection: Earth Science: Geology: Earth's history.

This activity introduces students to scientific knowledge and language related to Earth Science. Students will read content-rich texts, visit the David S. and Ruth L. Gottesman Hall of Planet earth and use what they have learned to complete writing task, creating an illustrated text about how earth’s systems and life on earth co-evolved to create an oxygen-rich atmosphere. This task is created by the American Museum of Natural History.

Earth Science: Geology: Earth's History.