Geologic History of N.C.
Materials:
- Meter stick or measuring tape
- Adding machine tape (4.6 meters)
- Events print out
Instructions:

Color the event cards (attached) and cut them apart.

Measure out 4.6 meters of adding machine tape. Draw a line across the tape every half meter
from the beginning.
o 1 meter=1 billion years of earth’s history
o 1 centimeter= 10 million years
o 1 millimeter = 1 million years.

Mark the first line as the present day, the next line as 500 million years ago, the next as 1
billion years ago, and continue on – the last line will read 4.5 billion years ago, add one extra
line at the end to represent 4.6 billion years ago and the formation of the planet.

Work together in your group to place the event cards in the appropriate place along the
timeline, measuring from the present day mark each time.

Look at the Geologic Timeline in your textbook on page 554 and choose two events not
already listed below that you consider important in describing the history of Earth and/or life
on Earth. Add descriptions and illustrations to the two blank event cards on your handout, and
include them on your timeline at the appropriate position.
Events:
1. Oceans and continents start to form – 4400 million years ago – 4.4 meters from present day (end of
timeline)
2. First evidence of life –3500 million years ago – 3.5 meters from present day
3. Beginning of atmospheric oxygen –2400 million years ago – 2.4 meters from present day
4. Plants move on to Land—450 million years ago – 45 centimeters from present day
5. Animals move on to Land—430 million years ago – 43 centimeters from present day
6. Collision of Africa & N. America; Appalachians form-270 million years ago-27 centimeters from
present day.
7. Permo-Triassic Mass Extinction – largest known!—251 million years ago – 25.1 centimeters from
present day
8. Evolution of Mammals –195 million years ago – 19.5 centimeters from present day
9. Opening of the Atlantic Ocean—160 million years ago - 16 centimeters from present day
10. Extinction of the Dinosaurs—65 million years ago – 6.5 centimeters from present day
11. Ice Ages began-2 million years ago-0.2 centimeters (2mm) from present day
12. Humans appear on Earth-.01 million years ago-0.001cm (.01mm) from present day
Analysis
1. For how long has there been life on Earth? _____________________________________________
2. For what percentage of time has life existed on Earth (round to the nearest whole number).
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3. For about how many years of geological time have humans existed on Earth?
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4. For about how many years of geological time did the dinosaurs existed on Earth?
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5. Did dinosaurs exist at the same time as humans? _______________________________________
6. How do scientists determine when an era begins and when it ends?
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7. What two events did you choose to add to your timeline? Explain why you considered each of these
events to be important.
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