3RD MP EARTH SCIENCE PROJECT
NAME:_____________________
PD.____ DUE DATE:________
GEOLOGIC TIME SCALE RESEARCH – POWERPOINT
__________________________________________________________
BACKGROUND:
Scientists divide the Earth’s history into different time units - the "Geological time-scale", according to the
rock types and fossils found in each one. The Paleozoic, known as the Era of "ancient life" is characterized by
fossils of invertebrates, primitive tetrapods, etc; the Mesozoic or Era of "middle life", by fossils of dinosaurs
etc, and the Cenozoic is the Era of "recent life" characterized by mammals and modern plants and
invertebrates.
These eras are sub-divided into periods, and the periods are further sub-divided into epochs. The epochs are
divided into smaller units of time known as ages (eg. Ice Age). Scientists know these periods lasted for millions
of years, because they can date them according to the amount of radioactivity that occurs in the rocks.
The geological time-scale can also be used to define the major stages in the history of life on Earth. Often
each era ends with a major extinction related to climate change which has been triggered by some major event
such as an meteoroid impact, which eliminates the dominant life forms of the time and paves the way for new
species of life.
HOW HAS EARTH EVOLVED OVER ITS 4.5 BILLION YEAR OLD HISTORY?
Geologic Time
ASSIGNMENT:
You are to select one of the time units from the ESRT Earth Science
Reference Tables – GEOLOGIC HISTORY OF NEW YORK STATE (page 8 & 9) and describe it
using information from the ESRT chart and Internet sources. You must cite all sources from the
ESRT and the Internet (complete website address) in a bibliography. This research project will be
presented in the form of a PowerPoint slide presentation. The following are websites to help you
research the geologic time scale and learn more information about your selected geologic time unit.
You may use these or other websites of your choosing; however, all websites AND the ESRT pages
used must be listed.
www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/Geologictime.html
http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Glossary/geo_time_scale.html
http://www.palaeos.com/Timescale/default.htm
http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/timescale.html
http://www.earthscienceworld.org/timescale/
You are to create a PowerPoint presentation of a time unit in geologic history creating a visual
historical account of that time and related environment that once existed on Earth based upon
authentic research, using the ESRT and Internet resources. This PowerPoint presentation will be
presented as full, color slides with a print-out copy of the PowerPoint presentation also printed as
“handouts” (6 slides all on one page) submitted to the teacher to receive project credit. NO LATE
PROJECTS WILL BE ACCEPTED!
YOUR POWERPOINT PRESENTATION MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
6 slides only, printed in color on 6 individual sheets of paper
your name and the title of your geologic time unit must be indicated on the first slide
the following ESRT information must be included for your selected geologic time unit (which Eon,
Era, Period, and Epoch) identifying all related time units
all projects will be displayed in the science hallway
SEE THE BELOW EXAMPLE:
For the ORDOVICIAN PERIOD
EON: Precambrian
ERA: Paleozoic
PERIOD: Ordovician
EPOCH: Early, Middle, Late
You must include in your PowerPoint all of the below ESRT information regarding your geologic
time unit:
LIFE ON EARTH: Earth’s first coral reefs, invertebrates dominant
NY ROCK RECORD: 488 MYA – 444 MYA; duration 44 million years
TIME DISTRIBUTION OF FOSSILS (including important fossils of New York):
trilobites (Cryptolithus), nautiloids (Valcouroceras), crinoids, graptolites (Tetragraptus,
Dicellograptus), eurypterids, corals (Lichenaria), gastropods (maclurites), and brachiopods.
(YOU MUST INCLUDE EACH SPECIES OF FOSSILS INDICATED IN THE
HORIZONTAL ROW OF YOUR TIME UNIT!)
IMPORTANT GEOLOGIC EVENTS IN NEW YORK: Taconian orogeny caused by closing
of western part of Iapetus Ocean and collision between North America and volcanic island
arc. Erosion of Taconic Mountains; Queenston delta forms. (YOU MUST INCLUDE EACH
GEOLOGIC EVENT INDICATED IN THE HORIZONTAL ROW OF YOUR TIME UNIT
ACCORDING TO RELATIVE AGE!)
INFERRED POSITIONS OF EARTH’S LANDMASSES: North America was located near
the Equator at this time. (provide a diagram if possible).
Diagrams of what Earth’s environment during your geologic time unit is believed to have
looked like at that time, including life on Earth (google images)
Bibliography (include a minimum of 3 websites) listed
*REFER TO THE SAMPLE POWERPOINT PROJECT ATTACHED!
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3RD MP EARTH SCIENCE PROJECT
NAME:_____________________
BLOCK___ DUE DATE:______
GEOLOGIC TIME SCALE RESEARCH – POWERPOINT
RUBRIC:

GEOLOGIC TIME UNIT :__________________________
PowerPoint has 6 slides only, is well-organized, and colorful -(first slide is title slide and includes the name of your geologic time unit,
your name and class period).

25 pts. _____
PowerPoint is informative, factual, accurate, and includes ESRT info:
(Eon/Era/Period/Epoch, Life on Earth, NY Rock Record, Time
Distribution of Fossils--fossil record, Geologic Events in NY,
and Inferred Position of Earth’s Landmass--location).

25 pts. _____
PowerPoint includes correct names of geologic time units and diagrams
indicating what life and the environment was like at that time .

PowerPoint includes bibliography: ESRT pages indicated and 3 Internet sites. 25 pts. _____
*NO LATE PROJECTS WILL BE ACCEPTED*



25 pts. _____
TOTAL POINTS:
_____
SLIDE 1 – TITLE PAGE: GEOLOGIC TIME PERIOD, YOUR NAME AND CLASS PERIOD
SLIDES 2, 3, 4, 5 – INFORMATION SLIDES THAT INCLUDE ESRT INFORMATION (life on Earth at
that time and important geologic events in New York at that time) AND DIAGRAMS
SLIDE 6 – BIBLIOGRAPHY: 3 INTERNET WEBSITES (URL ADDRESSES) AND ESRT PAGES USED