WEEKLY LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEETS

Earth Science Senior High School, Quarter 2, Week 6A

Age of Earth and the Geologic Time Scale

Learning Competency

Explain how relative and absolute dating were used to determine the subdivisions of
geologic time (S11ES-IIi-37)

Specific Objectives:

1. Identify how the subdivisions of geologic time were used in relative dating; and
2. Determine how the subdivisions of geologic time were used to figure out the exact age
of a fossil by absolute dating.

Key concepts

Age of the Earth

The Earth has a very long history—4.6 billion years of history. The age of the
Earth is based from the radioactive isotopic dating of meteorites. The oldest dated rock
from the Earth is only ~3.8 billion years old.

Rocks and Fossils

 The history of the Earth is recorded in rocks but the rock record is inherently
incomplete. Some ‘events’ do not leave a record or are not preserved. Some of the
rock record may have also been lost through the recycling of rocks (recall the rock
cycle).

 Preserved in rocks are fossils or the remains and traces of plants and animals
that have lived and died throughout the Earth's history. The fossil record
provides scientists with one of the most compelling evidence for Charles Darwin's
Theory of Evolution (increasing complexity of life through time).

Rocks, Fossils, and the Geologic Time Scale

 The Geologic Time Scale – the timeline of the History of the Earth, is based
on the rock record.

 Geologic time is subdivided into hierarchal intervals, the largest being Eon,
followed by Era, Period, and Epoch, respectively. Subdivision of Geologic time is
based from significant events in the Earth’s History as interpreted from the rock
record.

 The mass extinction event which lead to the extinction of the dinosaurs occurred
around 66.4 million years ago marks the boundary between the and Mesozoic Era
(Age of the Reptiles) the Cenozoic Era (Age of Mammals). This mass extinction
event may have been pivotal in the rise in dominance of the mammals during the
Cenozoic Era.
1

Author: April Mae A. Arcaya

School/Station: Union National High School
Division: Siargao Division
email address: aprilmae.arcaya@deped.gov.ph
 Figure 1: Geologic Time Scale
(Image source: https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/candimgs/45axxp/Geologic_time_scale.gif)

 One of the first to recognize the correspondence of between rocks and time is Nicholas
Steno (1638-1686). Steno’s principles – superposition, original horizontality, and lateral
continuity became the foundation of stratigraphy – the study of layered rocks.

 Since the Geologic Time Scale is based on the rock record, the first order of business is to
establish the correct succession of rocks. Initially, this was done using relative dating
techniques.

 One of the earliest attempts to subdivide the rock record into units of time was made by
Abraham Gottlob Werner, a German geologist. Werner divided the rock record into the
following rock-time units (from oldest to youngest): Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, and
Quaternary. Werner used the Principle of Superposition extensively to establish
temporal relationship among the rock units.

 Fossils are also useful in determining relative ages of rocks. William “Strata” Smith
(1769 – 1839), while working in a coal mine, observed that each layer or strata of
sedimentary rock contain a distinct assemblage of fossils which can be used to
establish equivalence (correlation) between rock units separated by long distances.
Moreover, he observed that these fossils succeed each other vertically in a definite order.

 Whereas William Smith used fossils primarily to identify rock layers, Charles Lyell (1797
– 1875), British Lawyer and Geologist, recognized the utility of fossils in subdividing
Geologic Time on the basis of fossils. He was able to subdivide the Tertiary by
examining the proportion of living vs. extinct fossils in the rocks.

 The underlying reason for this definite and orderly succession of fossils in the rock record
is organic evolution.
2

Author: April Mae A. Arcaya

School/Station: Union National High School
Division: Siargao Division
email address: aprilmae.arcaya@deped.gov.ph
 Figure 1: Evolution of life through Earth’s history (USGS, 1997)

Image source:
file:///C:/Users/USER/Downloads/High%20School%20Earth%20Science_Geologic%20Time%20Scale%20-
%20Wikibooks,%20open%20books%20for%20an%20open%20world_files/500px-Geological_time_spiral.png

 Fossils are essential in the subdivision of the geologic time.

 Biostratigraphy is a sub-discipline of stratigraphy, which deals with the use of fossils in

the correlation and establishments of the relative ages of rocks.

 Relative Dating - dating of events or substances in comparison with one another, in

chronological order.

Author: April Mae A. Arcaya

School/Station: Union National High School
Division: Siargao Division
email address: aprilmae.arcaya@deped.gov.ph
 Figure 3: Sample of Comparing different types of fossils in rock sample
(Image source: https://www.svsd410.org/cms/lib05/WA01919490/Centricity/Domain/1355/Week%206-
%20Geological%20Time%20Scale.pdf)

 Absolute Dating - an estimate of the true age of a mineral or rock or fossil based on the
rate of decay of radioactive materials

Figure 4: Relative vs Absolute dating

(Image source: https://www.svsd410.org/cms/lib05/WA01919490/Centricity/Domain/1355/Week%206-
%20Geological%20Time%20Scale.pdf)

Author: April Mae A. Arcaya

School/Station: Union National High School
Division: Siargao Division
email address: aprilmae.arcaya@deped.gov.ph
 Figure 5: Geologic Time Scale
(Image source: https://ucmp.berkeley.edu/education/explorations/tours/geotime/guide/geologictimescale.html)

Author: April Mae A. Arcaya

School/Station: Union National High School
Division: Siargao Division
email address: aprilmae.arcaya@deped.gov.ph
Exercise/Activities

Activity 1: WHO'S ON FIRST?

Objective: Identify how the subdivisions of geologic time were used in relative dating.

What you need: paper and ball pen

What to do:

1. Carefully examine the cards given below which have sketches of fossils on them. Each
card represents a particular rock layer with a collection of fossils that are found in that
particular rock stratum.

2. Using the letters printed in the lower left-hand corner of each card, write the sequence of
letters from the youngest layer to the oldest layer. Use your information on the different
organisms that are found in the geologic time scale to know their relative age.

3. Write your answers on the table provided.

Author: April Mae A. Arcaya

School/Station: Union National High School
Division: Siargao Division
email address: aprilmae.arcaya@deped.gov.ph
 Table 1.

From youngest to oldest:

1. ________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________
4. ________________________________________________
5. ________________________________________________
6. ________________________________________________
7. ________________________________________________
8. ________________________________________________

Activity 2: Geologic Events-Life Forms’ Absolute Age

Objective: Determine how the subdivisions of geologic time were used to figure out the exact age
of a fossil by absolute dating.

What you need: paper and ball pen

What to do:

1. Given below is the scale factor equivalent on the ages of different organism.

2. Use the scale factor to place each organism in the correct order of their absolute age on
the scaled model.

3. After determining their exact age, write the era where they came from. Write your answers
on Table 2.

Author: April Mae A. Arcaya

School/Station: Union National High School
Division: Siargao Division
email address: aprilmae.arcaya@deped.gov.ph
 Scale Factor Organism
Spiders- 44 cm
1 meter=1 billion years
1 centimeter=10 million years Bacteria- 2.5 m
1 millimeter=1 million years Seaweed-50.5 cm
First Modern Humans-0.1 mm
Note:
bya=billions of years ago Green Algae-1 m
mya=millions of years ago Sea Sponge--57 cm
Dinosaur Extinction-6.5 cm
Example:
Dogs-2.3 cm
Bacteria – 2. 5 m Beginning of Dinosaur Age- 24 cm
First Amphibians- 41 cm
2.5 m x 1 billion years = 2. 5 bya
1m First Primates- 5. 5 cm
Cats- 3. 8 cm
First Cockroaches- 32.5 cm
Grass (land)-2.2 cm
Beetles-28.6 cm

Table 2: Determine the absolute age of the organisms from oldest to youngest and what
era they came from.
1. Bacteria ( 2. 5 bya) - Precambrian Era____________
2. ______________________________________ - _____________________________________
3. ______________________________________ - _____________________________________
4. ______________________________________ - _____________________________________
5. ______________________________________ - _____________________________________
6. ______________________________________ - _____________________________________
7. ______________________________________ - _____________________________________
8. ______________________________________ - _____________________________________
9. ______________________________________ - _____________________________________
10. ______________________________________ - _____________________________________
11. ______________________________________ - _____________________________________
12. ______________________________________ - _____________________________________
13. ______________________________________ - _____________________________________
14. ______________________________________ - _____________________________________
15. ______________________________________ - _____________________________________

Guide questions:

1. Examine the time scale model you created as well as a more detailed geologic timeline.
What type of organisms were the first to develop? What type of organisms most recently
developed? Why do you think this happened? Use evidence from the timelines to support
your answer. (answer in 5 sentences)

Author: April Mae A. Arcaya

School/Station: Union National High School
Division: Siargao Division
email address: aprilmae.arcaya@deped.gov.ph
 Scoring Rubrics for Guide Question
6 points All answers to the questions are correct; ideas on the discussion are
thoroughly explained, well organized with almost no grammatical errors
4 point Some of the questions are answered correctly; ideas on the discussion are
explained and organized with few grammatical errors
2 point Only one question was answered correctly; ideas on the discussion were
uncertain and not organized
0 point No answer/discussion shown

Reflection

Based on the geologic time scale model, humans have only existed on Earth for a very
short period of its history. In Callao Cave in the Philippines, a fossil newly discovered appears to
come from a new human-like species. This human relative, or hominid, lived at least 50,000
years ago and named the specie Homo luzonensis. How do you think we have learned
information and evidence about the past life forms on Earth?

Scoring Rubrics
3 points Practical application is scientifically explained consistent to the concepts and has
no misconception
2 points Practical application is scientifically explained consistent to the concepts, but with
minimal misconception
1 point Practical application is explained consistent to the concepts, but with
misconceptions
0 point No discussion

References for learners:

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/earthscience/chapter/geologic-time-scale/

https://www.svsd410.org/cms/lib05/WA01919490/Centricity/Domain/1355/Week%206-
%20Geological%20Time%20Scale.pdf

Answer Key

Activity 1: Who’s on First?

9
Author: April Mae A. Arcaya
School/Station: Union National High School
Division: Siargao Division
email address: aprilmae.arcaya@deped.gov.ph
 email address: aprilmae.arcaya@deped.gov.ph
Division: Siargao Division
School/Station: Union National High School
Author: April Mae A. Arcaya
10
Reflections
Based on the geologic time scale model, humans have only existed on Earth for a
very short period of its history. In Callao Cave in the Philippines, a fossil newly
discovered appears to come from a new human-like species. This human relative, or
hominid, lived at least 50,000 years ago and named the specie Homo luzonensis. How do
you think we have learned information and evidence about the past life forms on Earth?
Possible Answer
To understand what came before us -- before life on Earth and before Earth itself --
scientists need to hunt for clues to that mysterious distant past. Paleontologist research
and studies the fossilized remains of all kinds of organisms (plants, animals, fungi, bacteria
and other single-celled living things), and is interested in knowing the history of organic life
on earth. They study clues left on the Earth to learn the order in which events happened in
the past, and how long it took for those events to happen.
Activity 2: Absolute Dating
1. Bacteria-2.5 bya (Precambrian Era)
2. Green Algae-1 bya (Precambrian Era)
3. Sea Sponge-570 mya (Precambrian Era)
4. Seaweed-505 mya (Paleozoic Era)
5. Spiders-440 mya (Paleozoic Era)
6. First Amphibians-410 mya (Paleozoic Era)
7. First Cockroaches-325 mya (Paleozoic Era)
8. Beetles-286 mya (Paleozoic Era)
9. Beginning of Dinosaur Age-240 mya (Mesozoic Era)
10.Dinosaur Extinction-65 mya (Mesozoic Era)
11.First Primates-55 mya (Cenozoic Era)
12.Cats-38 mya (Cenozoic Era)
13.Dogs-23 mya (Cenozoic Era)
14.Grass (land)-22 mya (Cenozoic Era)
15.First Modern Humans-100,00 ya (Cenozoic Era)
Guide questions:
1. Examine the time scale model you created as well as a more detailed geologic
timeline. What type of organisms were the first to develop? What type of organisms
most recently developed? Why do you think this happened? Use evidence from the
timelines to support your answer. (answer in 5 sentences)
Answer:
The first type of organism to develop was bacteria. The most recently developed
organism is the human being. This type of development happened because of evolution.
Through evolution, there is an increasing complexity of life through time. Different species
gradually change overtime due to the process of natural selection and these changes can be
seen in the geologic time scale.