UNIT 6 Fossil History of the Earth

Activity 4:  Half of What? (SI GLEs: 16, 19, 21, 22, 27, 28; ESS GLE: 33)

CC:  A chart should be prepared by each group listing the trial number on one line and the number of items in the box on the second, so the first column will show Trial 1 on line one and 100 on the second line.

CC:  Students should graph the information from their chart, and cooperative groups should compare their results.

Excel or other graphing software could be used to make this chart.

Excel Quick Tips:

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/FX010858001033.aspx

CC:  Students should research the terms absolute age, alpha and beta decay, radiometric dating, radiocarbon dating. Challenge the students to find data that identifies the age of the oldest rocks found on Earth and what method of dating was used to determine its age.

USGS geology in the Parks

http://wrgis.wr.usgs.gov/docs/parks/gtime/radiom.html

Radiometric Dating

http://www.starsandseas.com/SAS%20Evolution/SAS%20geoltime/geotime_radiometric.htm

Unitedstreaming Videos

Greatest Discoveries with Bill Nye: Earth Science

Radiometric Dating (05:31)