Title: Unveiling Earth's History through Rock Stratification

Grade Level: Senior High School (Grade 11)

Duration: 50 minutes

Objectives: By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. Describe the formation of stratified rocks and the role of sedimentary processes in their
development.
2. Differentiate between relative dating and absolute dating methods and their significance in
determining rock ages.
3. Explain how relative and absolute dating contribute to the construction of the geologic time scale.

Materials Needed:

1. Whiteboard and markers or a projector for visual aids.

2. Printed copies of the Earth Materials and Processes handout for students.
3. Diagrams or illustrations of rock layers and dating methods (optional).

Procedures:

I. Reviewing Previous Lesson (5 minutes)

 Briefly revisit the key points from the previous lesson on seafloor spreading and its role in plate
tectonics.
 Explain how today's lesson connects to the broader understanding of Earth's history.

II. Establishing Purpose for the Lesson (5 minutes)

 Display the objectives on the board or screen.

 Emphasize that this lesson focuses on unraveling Earth's history through the stratification of rocks.

III. Presenting Illustrative Examples (10 minutes)

 Introduce the concept of stratified rocks and their formation through sedimentary processes.
 Use diagrams or illustrations to visualize the formation of sedimentary rocks from older rocks, as
well as the progression from sediments to rock layers.

IV. Discuss Concepts (5 minutes)

 Engage students in a discussion about the two main methods for dating rocks: relative dating and
absolute dating.
 Highlight the key differences between these methods.

V. Developing Mastery (5 minutes)

 Explain the principles of relative dating, including the law of superposition, original horizontality,
lateral continuity, and cross-cutting relationships.
 Emphasize how these principles help establish the relative ages of rock layers and fossils.

VI. Making Generalization and Abstraction (5 minutes)

 Discuss the concept of absolute dating and how it provides numerical ages for rocks.
 Give examples of absolute dating methods, such as radiocarbon dating, K-Ar dating, and U-Pb
dating, along with their respective age ranges.

VII. Finding Practical Applications of Concepts and Skills in Daily Living (5 minutes)

 Encourage students to reflect on the importance of determining the age of rocks in fields like
geology, archaeology, and environmental science.
 Discuss real-world applications, such as understanding geological hazards and resource
exploration.

VIII. Evaluation of Learning (5 minutes)

 Conduct a quiz based on the Key Questions provided.

 Allow students to work individually or in pairs to answer the questions.

IX. Additional Activities (5 minutes)

 Assign a research task where students investigate how the age of trees can be determined and
relate it to the topic of rock dating.
 Encourage students to explore the connections between Earth's history and various dating
methods.

X. Conclusion (4 minutes)

 Summarize the main points of the lesson, emphasizing the significance of relative and absolute
dating in understanding Earth's past.
 Highlight that these dating methods contribute to the construction of the geologic time scale.

XI. Homework Assignment (3 minutes)

 Assign a research task related to the geologic time scale, asking students to explore its importance
and history.
 Provide resources or references for further exploration.

XII. Closing Remarks (1 minute)

 Encourage students to engage in independent research and prepare for the next lesson.
 Thank the class for their active participation and curiosity.

Note: Adjust the timing of each section as needed to fit the 50-minute lesson period. Ensure that
the Earth Materials and Processes handout is distributed to students for reference and assessment.
You may use visuals or diagrams to aid in explaining concepts if available.