Name: _________________________________ Date___________________ Period: _________
Geological Time Scale
Before beginning the study of the Earth, geology, we must first understand and
comprehend the time scale of the Earth. We all know the origin of the Earth
precedes us by approximately 4.6 million years. However, that time scale is too
large for most of us to comprehend. In order to better understand this enormous
time scale you are going to construct a metaphorical time scale.
Directions: Design a time scale of Earth which will include all 4.6 million years of
Earth using a unit much smaller than million years. Basically, we are going to be
squeezing all 4.6 billion years into a small comprehendible time scale. You must
include a minimum of 15 events or important dates on your time scale. Events can
include geological eras, important dates, and personal dates. Examples of
metaphorical time scales include 1 football field, 1 day, the length of this room in
blocks, 1 city block, mass, volume, etc… Be original and creative!!!
Example: In this example I am going to create a metaphorical time scale of 1
football field. Basically, I am going to squeeze all 4.6 million years, and there
events, into 1 football field. The event I am going to include is the age of humans
(approximately 100,000 years ago).
Known Age of Past Event
=
Known Age of the Earth
Unknown Time Scale Metaphor
Maximum Measurement in Metaphor
(100,000 years)
=
(4,600,000,000 years)
(X) 1st human on football field in yards
100 yards
(100,000years)(100yards)
=
(X yards)(4,600,000,000 years)
10,000,000 years yards
=
(X yards)
=
.002 Yards
4,600,000,000 years
X
Name: _________________________________ Date___________________ Period: _________
You must create a visual representation of your time scale. You may use items
such as construction paper, toilet paper, popsicle sticks, tooth picks, pens, toys,
etc.. We are going to hang these in the room. Make sure they are creative and look
nice!
Here are some important dates in Earth’s history. However, you may also use your
own.
Millions of
Years Ago
4600
3900
3800
2000
900
510
458
440
375
245
200
160
145
130
65
3.4
2
.600
.125
.100
.015
.007
.000503
??
Event
Origin of the Earth
Oldest Dated Crustal Rocks
Oldest Evidence for Life
First Oxygen Atmosphere/Ozone Layer Forms
Oldest Metazoan Fossils
Oldest Fossil Fish
First Land Plants
Bedrock in Oxford Forms/Ohio near the equator
That important first step: Amphibians Evolve
Huge Mass Extinction at End of Permian Period/
Close of the Paleozoic Era
First Mammals
First Birds
Atlantic Ocean first opens
Angiosperms (Flowering Plants) on the Scene
Adaptive Radiation of Mammals/Dinosaurs Go Extinct/
Close of the Mesozoic Era/Beginning of the Cenozoic Era
New discoveries of (LUCY)Australopithecus afarensis fossils from Ethiopia-Males and females show sexual dimorphism
Pleistocene Ice Age begins/Light from the Andromeda galaxy seen today left
Andromeda 2 x 106 years ago!
Age of Homo erectus fossils from Ethiopia
Oldest rocks in the Bahamas
Homo sapiens appears in the fossil record
Last ice sheet retreats from Ohio
Grahams Harbor, San Salvador, Bahamas floods due to rising sea level after Ice
sheets are reduced to modern day volume
Columbus lands in New World
Your Birthday