Common Core Curriculum Map 2015-2016
Common Core Unit Name: Earth History
Unit Number: 4
Enduring Understanding:
8.E.2 Understand the history of Earth and its life forms based on evidence of change recorded in fossils records and
landforms.
Standard
Essential Questions
Pacing Guideline
8.E.2.
8.E.2.1
26 Days
Infer the age of Earth and relative age of
 What are fossils?
rocks and fossils from index fossils and
 How do fossils form?
ordering of rock layers (relative dating and
 What type of rock are fossils found?
radioactive dating).
 How are fossils used to date Earth's
history?
 How do scientists use index fossils to
date geologic history?
 What is the Law of Superposition?
 How can rock data show geologic
evolution?
 What is radioactive dating and what type
of rocks can be dated using it?
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Common Core Curriculum Map 2015-2016
8.E.2.2
Explain the use of fossils, ice cores,
composition of sedimentary rocks,
faults,and igneous rock formations found in
rock layers as evidence of the history of the
Earth and its changing life forms.
8.E2.2
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Absolute age
Amphibian
Atom element
Cambrian
Carbon film
Cast
Crust
Deposition
Eon
Epoch
Era
Erosion
Evolution
Extinct
Extinction (extinct)
Extrusion
Fault
Folding
Fossil
Geologic time scale
Geology
Half-life
Ice core
Igneous rock
Index fossil
Intrusion
Invertebrate
Lava
How are ice cores used to discover
Earth's history?
How are ice cores used to understand
major climate events?
How can rocks, fossils and ice core
data show major climatic changes and
major catastrophic events?
What is the geologic time scale?
How can scientists use the geologic
time scale to show how Earth has
changed over time?
What evidence supports the fact that
Earth's constant changing has lead to
major geologic events such as Ice
Ages, volcanic activity and continental
drift?
Essential Vocabulary
Law of superposition
Lithosphere
Magma
Mammal
Mass extinction
Metamorphic rock
Mid-ocean ridge
Mold
Paleontologist
Period
Petrified fossil
Precambrian
Radioactive dating
Relative age
Reptile
Rock cycle
Sea floor spreading
Sediment
Sedimentary rock
Tectonic plates
Trace fossil
Unconformity
Uplift
Vertebrate
Volcano
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Common Core Curriculum Map 2015-2016
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