Geologic Time Line
Canadian Geography
Name: __________________
Date: Nov.5 and 6, 2015
Read the directions carefully to complete the assignment. Consult Geologic History Making Connections (2006
Chapt.11) & other sources to label the events of each era.
Directions to Make a Geologic Time Line
1. Use four sheets of 8 ½ by 11 inch paper to create your geologic time line. Arrange the paper so that it is in a
landscape direction and tape the paper together so that there are 111 cm of paper taped end to end.
2. In the top left corner, write the title and make a scale. Label the scale: 1 cm = 50 million years
3. Starting on the left side of the paper, make a mark 5 cm from the end of the paper. Label the word 0 billion
years: The Beginning of Earth above the mark, writing vertically.
4. From this mark, measure 20 cm to the right of this line and make a vertical mark. Label this mark 1 billion
years. Measure & mark each billion years 20 cm after that, to 5 billion years.
5. Measure 92 cm from the start of the time line, The Beginning of Earth. Mark and label this distance along the
right hand edge of the paper 2015: Today.
6. Across the bottom of the page, label the start year & end year of each era on your geologic time scale. Label
the name of each era between its start & end years. Using the scale 1 cm = 50 million years, measure the
distance to each era from 2014 by using the following information:
Cenozoic Era
66 million years ago =
______________ cm from Today
Mesozoic Era
245 million years ago =
______________ cm from Today
Paleozoic Era
570 million years ago =
______________ cm from Today
Precambrian Era
4.6 billion years ago =
______________ cm from Today
7. Identify the major events of each era on your geologic time line. Place all the 22 events listed below in the
appropriate era, checking each off as you place them on the time line. You may include other events and identify
the Periods such as Jurassic and Cretaceous. Use text and pictures to illustrate your time line.
first single-celled organisms
Pangaea begins to break up
first humans
swamps in Maritimes; future coal deposits
first forests
Beginning of the formation of the Rockies
Rockies’ formation complete
Neanderthals disappear
first birds and mammals
dinosaurs dominate
Age of Amphibians and Fish
seas cover Western Canada; future oil
Age of Reptiles
dinosaurs become extinct
oldest know fossil vertebrate (fish)
land first colonized by plants and animals
Age of Mammals
Stromatolites peak
greatest extinction of 80% of life
Canadian Shield is formed
Canada experiences Ice Age
Appalachian Mountains are formed
Due Date: Day 4 Monday, November 16/ Day 1Tuesday, November 17, 2015
Knowledge and Understanding
Thinking & Inquiry
Communication
4 Eras + 22 major events
Periods, events added to the given list for additional information 1 mark per era
Graphics, text and pictures = 4 marks per era
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/4
TOTAL
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