Geologic History
Infomercial
Content Expectations:

E5.3 C: Relate major events in the history of the Earth to the geologic time scale,
including formation of the Earth, formation of an oxygen atmosphere, rise of life,
Cretaceous –Tertiary (K-T) and Permian Extinctions, and Pleistocene ice age.

E5.3 D: Describe how index fossils can be used to determine time sequence.
Assignment: You have access to a machine that allows you to take tourists to
various Periods in geologic time. You will work in groups of two or three to
design a travel tour for the Period you are given. You must advertise your tour.
Your advertisement can be in the form of a travel brochure, commercial,
billboard, infomercial or any other form of visual media. The commercial should
be informative and sell the idea that the time period would be one that a person
would want to visit.
Step 1: Read the section in Chapter 13 which corresponds to the Period
you have been assigned. Record:
a) where was life found?
b) what was the Earth like?
c) what was life like? Types of plants? Types of animals?
d) what marks the beginning and the end of the Era? Periods?
Report back to your group what you learned.
Step 2: Assign specific information to each student in the group to
research on the topic. Log the information found and the website the
information came from on the information log sheets.
Step 3: Use the information you gathered to design an infomercial.
Include the following information:
 Identify the Era and Period
 Describe any event that signaled the start/end of the time period
 Describe the climate on Earth at that time
 Describe/show plants that would be found
 Describe/show animals that would be found
 Describe major geologic events
 Describe any index fossils of the Era/Period
Step 4: Put together the product (billboard, brochure, etc.)
Step 5: Present your era to the class. All students must present.
Check Bric
Content Expectations
_____ Identify the Era and Period
_____ Describe any event that signaled the
start/end of the time period
_____ Describe the climate on Earth
_____ Describe and show the types of plants
that would be found
_____ Describe and show the types of animals
that would be found
Quality Expectations
Exceptional understanding/interpretation of
geologic era. All information is completely and
correctly explained. Goes beyond grade level
expectations.
3 Good understanding/interpretation of geologic
era. All information is correctly explained. High
quality grade level work.
2 Proficient understanding/interpretation of
geologic era. Fulfills grade level standard.
1 Limited degree of understanding of geologic era.
Below grade level standard.
4
_____ Describe major geologic events
_____ Describe any index fossils of the
Era/Period that can be found today
_____ brochure/poster/visual representation
_____ oral presentation
Grades:
1) Brochure is worth 30 points. See Check Bric
2) Each student must hand in individually: summary of reading section
they were responsible for, web site evaluation form for each web site,
bibliography of sites he/she visited, description of the information gathered
at each site. 20 points