Geologic Time Scale
Name ______________________
Biology – 10th
Date_________________________
The scale of geologic time is vast, currently estimated at nearly 4.6 billion years. During that time, life evolved into the familiar forms we see today. This table on the following
page is provided to assist in understanding time relationships and how life on Earth changed through time. The table shows some important events in Earth history, presented in
the order in which they occurred. The data are also shown on the scale of a calendar year. When geologic time is compressed to the scale of a calendar year, 1 second equals about
146 years. At this scale, World War II began about 0.4 second before midnight on December 31. (http://www.uky.edu/KGS/education/geologictimescale.pdf)
You will use the information in the table to create a digital timeline that includes the Eras and Periods of the Geologic Time Scale. To do this you will use a website called Time
Toast.
1. Register for Time Toast.
a. Go to http://www.timetoast.com/
b. Click “Sign up” in the upper right hand corner
c. Username – Huntsmen log-in name (lastname first initial graduation year) NO EXCEPTIONS
d. Email – Huntsment email (log-in name@students.huntsmen.org) NO EXCEPTIONS
e. Password- Use your huntsmen password. NO EXCEPTIONS
2. Confirm your email address.
a. Go to www.huntsmen.org
b. Forms and Links
c. E-mail
d. Log-in
e. Confirm e-mail sent from Time Toast. This should take you back to the Time Toast website (Check the top of the page for your name).
3. Make a Time line (Find an example by searching for “Geologic Time Scale – Minney”)
a. Click “your timelines”
b. Add a new time line
c. Title – “Geologic Time Scale – Your Last Name”
d. Category – Science and Technology
e. No Image. - GO
4. Your time line
a. Add Timespan
b. Add Title “Geologic Time Scale in One Calendar Year”
c. Time Span Range: January 1, 2012 – December 31, 2012
d. Create Timespan
e. Add Events including Eras and Periods (According to event table on next page)
f. Add Titles and Descriptions (According to event table on next page)
g. To add pictures:
i. Choose an Image that fits the description of the events taking place.
ii. Upload Image
iii. My computer – Huntmain B – Biology Folder (Pictures are preloaded in this file for you to use.)
5. Continue process until your timeline is complete.
Note: Multiple Views allow you to see timeline. – Click View Timeline – Timeline or View Text.
6. After Completion –
a. Tag it as “HHSBio”
b. Make it public – (Draft Timelines Can’t Be Shared – Click Here) – PUBLISH
Geologic Time Scale Event Table
Event Date:
Event Title:
01/01/2012
Precambrian Time 4600 MYA
02/25/2012
03/21/2012
07/18/2012
11/18/2012
11/19/2012
11/21/2012
11/27/2012
11/29/2012
Origin of life (first cells) 3900 MYA
Prokaryotes 3600 MYA
Eukaryotes 2100 MYA
Paloezoic Era 544 MYA
Cambrian Period 544 MYA
Ordovician Period 544 MYA
Silurian Period 438 MYA
Devonian Period 408 MYA
12/03/2012
12/06/2012
Mississippian Period 360 MYA
Pennsylvanian Period
12/12/2012
12/12/2012
12/15/2012
Mesozoic Era "The Age of Reptiles" 245 MYA
Triassic Period 245 MYA
Jurassic Period 208 MYA
12/20/2012
Cretaceous Period 144 MYA
12/26/2012
12/26/2012
Cenozoic Era - The Age of Mammals - 65 MYA
Tertiary Period 65 MYA
12/31/2012
Quaternary Period 2 MYA
Event Description:
The Earth formed from planetary nebula. Oldest age-dated rocks on Earth. Fossil algae
and stromatolites (prokaryotes). Fossil evidence of bacteria. Fossil evidence of cells with
a nucleus (eukaryotes). First multi-celled organisms (seaweed and algae). Oldest marine
worms and jellyfish.
3900 million years ago.
Burgess Shale animals. Animals with a notochord.
First fish. First fossil evidence of land plants.
First vascular land plants. Oldest lung fish fossils
Oldest fossil evidence of mosses. First insects. First lobe-finned fish. First land animals.
First sharks. First seed plants.
First possible reptiles.
Permian system begins. Snail-backed reptiles (Dimetrodon). End of Paleozoic. 96% of
all life on Earth perishes.
First crocodiles First dinosaursFirst mammals (shrew like) First turtles
Dilophosaurus, early dinosaur. First bird - Archeopteryx. Apatosaurus and
Brachiosaurus. Stegosaurus.
First flowering plants. Duck-billed dinosaurs. Protoceratops. Triceratops. Tyrannosaurus
rex. Velociraptor. End of Mesozoic, probaly meteor or comet impact.
First ancestors of dogs and cats - 64 MYA. Grasses become widespread - 60 MYA. First
ancestors of pigs and deer - 57 MYA. First horses - 55 MYA. First ancestors of rabbits
45 MYA. Frist monkeys - 39 MYA. Oldest human like ancestors (hominids) - 4 MYA.
First of 4 ice ages -1 MYA. Oldest direct human-ancestor fossil, Homo habilis - 1 MYA.
First modern man, Homo sapiens - 0.1 MYA. Mammoth and mastodon bones - 0.05
MYA. Revolutionary War -235 years ago. World War II- 70 years ago
Geologic Time Scale
Name ______________________
Biology – 10th
Date_________________________
Assessment Questions:
1.
How many billion years old is the Earth? __________________________
2.
The geologic time scale is divided mainly into _______________________________ and __________________________________.
3.
Describe how life changed over the course of time.
4.
How did cells change over time?
5.
How did technology to help us solve the problem of illustrating the Earth’s history over time?
6.
On a scale of 1-5, with 5 being highest, how well did you enjoy learning using Time Toast in comparison to printed material in your book? ____________
7.
What were some of the challenges of this computer lab activity?
8.
State specifically how could this lab activity be improved. Your teacher appreciates your feedback.