Earth and Space
Name:__________________________________________
History of the Earth Summative Project
AERO Standards
ESS.2 HISTORY OF THE EARTH Students will understand scientific theories of how the
earth’s surface is formed and how those theories developed.
ESS.2.12A: By the end of Grade 12, students will explain the methods of determining
geologic time.
You are geologists, studying the history of the Earth! You have dug up
several different types of fossils during your adventures out in North
America, China and Argentina. You have decided to showcase your fossils
and to discuss the time periods they come from, and what clues led you to
decide this.
Resources:
1.) Textbook: Chapter 12 - Geologic Time, Chapter 13 - Earth’s History
2.) Internet - reliable sources
Project Instructions:
In pairs, you and your partner will create fossils and a presentation to explain the following:
 Importance of Reading Rock Records
 Types of Fossils
 Relative and Radiometric Dating
 Using the Geologic Time Scale to identify the era the fossils are from
- Eras include: Precambrian, Paleozoic, Mesozoic, Cenozoic
TASKS:
A) Creating Fossils to represent organisms dating from each Era
B) Presentation and ePortfolio pages
a. Create subpages under ESS.2 Standard for 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4 and 13.
b. Both partners are equally responsible for knowing the answers to the QUESTION GUIDE.
c. Insert visuals: You may use posters, PowerPoint, Prezi, videos, animations etc. to assist you in
communicating your knowledge of the content from Chapter 12 and 13.
d. It will be Round Robin Style presentations. Stations will be set up around the room and the
teacher circulates to listen to each group individually.
DUE DATE: ____________________________________________________
Earth and Space
Name:__________________________________________
Formative Checklist - Your teacher will check this each class for completion
Lesson and Date
1
Date:
Work completed in class
 Worksheet: Types of Fossils
 Which types will you make? How will
you make them?
2
Date:
 Worksheet: Precambrian Era
 Fossils made from this era:
3
Date:
 Worksheet: Paleozoic Era
 Fossils made from this era:
4
Date:
 Worksheet: Mesozoic Era
 Fossils made from this era:
5
Date:
 Worksheet: Cenozoic Era
 Fossils made from this era:
6
Date:
 Presentation-Guided Questions
 ePortfolio subpages have questions
and reflections
Teacher signature
Earth and Space
Name:__________________________________________
1. Fill in the following table using information from Pg. 342-343 in the Textbook
Types of Fossils
Petrified
Description
Example (Picture)
Molds and Casts
Carbon Films
Preserved
Remains
Trace Fossils
Questions:
1. You should make a model for a minimum of two types of fossils. Which ones will you make?
2. How will you make them (see pinterest info on next page for ideas)?
Earth and Space
Name:__________________________________________
Making Fossils using Pinterest
Fossils: Research each type of fossil and create a model. What you choose to fossilize should
depend on the Eras you are representing. Refer to worksheets on the different Eras.
Example:
Petrified Fossil - remains of the animal turned into stone. Minerals replace the dead cells.
Real
Model-Clay
Using different materials to make fossils:
Model-playdough
Earth and Space
Name:__________________________________________
2. Fill in the following table using pgs. 364-368 from the textbook
ERA
PRECAMBRIAN
Time period
Geological
1.
Developments
How did earth
change during this
time?
Visual:
(What visuals can
you create to show
these)
2.
Visual:
3.
Visual:
Living Things
Present
1.
(You will create
fossils of these)
2.
3.
Earth and Space
Name:__________________________________________
3. Fill in the following table using pgs. 369-376 from the textbook
ERA
PALEOZOIC - Life Explodes
Time period
Geological
Developments
How did earth
change during this
time?
(What visuals can
you create to show
these)
1. Cambrian Period:
Visual:
2.Ordovician Period:
Visual:
3. Silurian Period:
Visual:
4. Devonian Period:
Visual:
5. Carboniferous Period:
Visual:
6. Permian Period:
Visual:
Living Things
Present
1. Cambrian:
2. Ordovician:
(You will create
fossils of these)
3. Silurian:
4. Devonian:
5. Carboniferous:
6. Permian:
Earth and Space
Name:__________________________________________
4. Fill in the following table using pgs. 377-381 from the textbook
ERA
Time period
Geological Developments
MESOZOIC-Age of Reptiles
1. Triassic Period:
How did earth change during
this time?
(What visuals can you create
to show these)
2. Jurassic Period:
3. Cretaceous Period:
Living Things Present
1. Triassic Period:
(You will create fossils of
these)
2. Jurassic Period:
3. Cretaceous Period:
Earth and Space
Name:__________________________________________
5. Fill in the following table using pgs. 382-385 from the textbook
ERA
CENOZOIC-Age of Mammals
Time period
Geological Developments 1. Tertiary Period:
-How did earth change
during this time?
(What visuals can you
create to show these)
2. Quaternary Period:
Living Things Present
1. Tertiary Period:
(You will create fossils of
these)
2. Quaternary Period:
Earth and Space
Name:__________________________________________
Presentation and ePortfolio subpages: Question Guide
12.1
Importance of Reading Rock Records
 What information does a Rock record provide?
 What is the difference between “inclusions” and “unconformities”?
 Why do geologists correlate rock layers?
12.2
Types of Fossils
 What are the different types of fossils?
 What are the distinct features for each type of fossil?
 How will you make the different types of fossils?
12.3





Radiometric Dating
What is radioactivity?
What happens during radioactive decay?
How are isotopes used in radiometric dating?
How can radiometric dating be used to date organic material?
How can radiometric dating be used to date sedimentary rocks?
12.4
Geologic Time Scale
 What is the Geological Time Scale?
 How is the Geological Time Scale constructed?
13
Eras: Precambrian, Paleozoic, Mesozoic, Cenozoic
 What were the major geological developments during each Era?
 What were the major developments in living things during each Era?
 How do scientists explain the mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous
period (part of the Mesozioc era)?
 What helped mammals succeed in the Cenozoic Era?