GEOLOGIC TIME LINE PROJECT
Name_________________
DUE:
GOAL: Students will create a geological time scale that visually illustrates the organisms that
flourished during the various stages of Earth’s history.
INSTRUCTIONS: Students will receive enough computer paper to make a 3 meter long chart. On it
they will place eras, periods, and epochs in a time scale based on the chart given.
A. TIME SCALE: Eras, Periods, and Epochs need to be in the right proportion and order. Only the
Precambrian Time will be out of proportion. You will use a proportional time scale where one cm
equals 2 million years. The time scale will be read left to right from the earliest to the most recent
time. You will show the first unit of geologic time (Precambrian) on the left end. The right edge of
your paper represents the present time.
1. First fold the last sheet of paper under the rest so that it will later become extra paper on
the right edge of your time scale.
2. Start by measuring 290 cm from the right (recent) edge of the folded paper. Draw a light,
vertical line here. This represents the start of the Paleozoic Era (Cambrian Period), 580 million years
ago. The space remaining on the left edge (about 10 cm) will represent Precambrian time.
3. Now measure 250 cm from the right (recent) edge of the folded paper. Draw a vertical line
here. This represents the start of the Ordovician Period of the Paleozoic Era, 500 million years ago.
4. Measure the start of each new time unit by using the table below, always measuring from
the fold on the right of your folded paper.
5. The Recent Epoch, (Holocene Epoch), will be the last time unit on your time scale. It will
be represented by a very thin space between your last line and the right hand fold of your paper.
**Your illustrations may be placed above or below your “time-line”. For the extremely short time
units, it is impossible to place the organisms exactly above their area of the time scale. Use the extra
sheet of paper attached to the right hand edge of your time scale for them. Draw a “picture-frame”
around the illustrations. The frame is connected to the proper time period by a straight line.
MILLIONS OF YEARS AGO
2 million years per cm
4600
= 23 meters but we will use only about 10 cm -------(Begin Precambrian Time) ---- 580
= 290 cm -------------(Begin Paleozoic Era) ------------------------------------------500
= 250 cm
430 = 215 cm
400
= 200 cm
345 = 172 cm
285 = 142 cm
-------------- 245
= 122 cm -------(Begin Mesozoic Era) ------------------------------------185
= 92 cm
135
= 67 cm
--------------------- 65
= 32 cm ------------(Begin Cenozoic Era) -------------------------55
= 27 cm
38
= 19 cm
25
= 12 cm
5
= 3 cm
2.5
= 1.5 cm
.01
= 0.5 cm
------------------------------------- 00
= 0.0 cm ---------------- present ----------
B. ILLUSTRATIONS: After setting up this scale students will use various sources to find out what
organisms were present during each time period. The required number of illustrated organisms for
each time period are as follows:
1. Precambrian Era: one (1) example
2. Periods of the Paleozoic Era: two (2) examples each period. (12 total)
3. Periods of the Mesozoic Era: three (3) examples each period. (9 total)
4. Epochs of the Periods of the Cenozoic Era: one (1) example each epoch. (7 total)
C. KEY WORDS TO LOOK UP:
Geologic Time
Prehistoric
Fossil
Dinosaurs
Precambrian
Paleozoic Era
Mesozoic Era
Cenozoic Era
OTHER HELPFUL IDEAS:
1. USE PENCIL to set up the time scale.
2. Look in the libraries for sources of information. There are several books that you can
photocopy and color or trace and paste them to your time scale.
The West LibraryPage: www.asdk12.org/schools/west/pages/librarypage/
Many sites, password is “remote” for most of them.
3. Enlarge the illustrations of your organisms so they use as much space as possible in a
given time period.
4. Ask classmates for help.
5. If you make a mistake that is really terrible and you can’t erase... turn the paper over and
start again. Another option is to cut and splice another piece in. You will not get a
second sheet of paper!
GRADING: This is a 60 project! Grading will be based upon accuracy, the number of examples
given per time unit , neatness, creativity, and punctuality.
Category
Points
Possible
Precambrian Era
1
Paleozoic Era
Mesozoic Era
Cenozoic Era
Accurate Measurement
12
9
7
10
Creative, Colorful
11
Extra Info/On Time
10
Total
60
Your
score