Precambrian Time Guiding Questions
(I) Relative websites:
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/help/timeform.html
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/geophys/geotime.html
http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/geotime.html
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/Geologictime.html
(II) General Unit Guided Questions
1. Can students explain how scientists know what conditions existed on Earth long ago?
2. Can students describe the types of evidence that are available to scientists to interpret the
history of Earth?
3. Can students describe how the relative age of a rock or an event is determined?
4. Can students describe how geologists are able to discern the geologic history of a region by
using rock layers?
5. Can students suggest how to correlate discontinuous rock columns from around the world?
6. Can students distinguish between relative and absolute dating and describe how actual
geologic ages can be measured using known rates of radioactive decay?
7. Can students describe how certain fossils are indicators of ancient environments and how the
evolutionary developments of life forms are inferred from the fossil record?
(III) Guided Questions for Specific Topic
1. How old is Precambrian time? How long did it last?
2. What is your time period known for?
3. What are the three Eons of the Precambrian time? What do each of the Eons stand
for?
4. Give two characteristics of each Eon?
5. Why is the Precambrian time the longest time period on the geological timescale?
6. Did the Precambrian time period have life forms? If so, what were some of the types
of life forms and where could they be found? During which Eon did they evolve?
7. What are stromatolites? What causes them to form?
8. What are eukaryotic cells?
9. What was the atmosphere like during this time period? How did it evolve?