CORE EARTH SCIENCE11 Q2 Mod13 W6 Investigating The Age of The Past

Core Subject
Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
Region I
SCHOOLS DIVISION OF ILOCOS NORTE
Earth Science
Quarter 2 – Module 13: Investigating the
Age of the Past
SDOIN_Core_STEM_Q2_EarthScience11_Module13
Earth Science
Crafting-Resources-for-Accessible-and-Flexible-Teaching (CRAFT) Quarter 2 – Module
13: Investigating the Age of the Past
First Edition, 2023
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Earth Science
Quarter 2 – Module 13: Investigating
the Age of the Past
MELCs: Explain how relative and absolute dating were used to

determine the subdivisions of geologic time (S11ES-IIi-
37)
Describe how index fossils (also known as guide fossils)

are used to define and identify
subdivisions of the geologic time scale (S11ES-IIj- 38)
Prepared by:
PETER A. GUILLERMO
Teacher III
Bagbag Solsona National High School
Introductory Message
This Contextualized Learning Module (CLM) is prepared so that you, our dear learners, can
continue your studies and learn while at home. Activities, questions, directions, exercises, and
discussions are carefully stated for you to understand each lesson with ease.
This CLM is composed of different parts. Each part shall guide you step-by- step as you
discover and understand the lesson prepared for you.
Pre-test is provided to measure your prior knowledge on the lesson. This will show you if you
need to proceed in completing this module or if you need to ask your facilitator or your teacher’s
assistance for better understanding of the lesson. At the end of this module, you need to
answer the post-test to self-check your learning. Answer keys are provided for all activities and tests.
We trust that you will be honest in using them.
In addition to the material in the main text, Notes to the Teacher is also provided to our
facilitators and parents for strategies and reminders on how they can best help you in your home-based
learning.
Please use this module with care. Do not put unnecessary marks on any part of this CLM. Use
a separate sheet of paper in answering the exercises and tests. Likewise, read the instructions carefully
before performing each task.
If you have any question in using this CLM or any difficulty in answering the tasks in this
module, do not hesitate to consult your teacher or facilitator.
Thank you.
What I Need to Know
This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to help you master the
relative and absolute dating and the age of fossils. The scope of this module permits it to be used in
many different learning situations. The language used recognizes the diverse vocabulary level of
students. The lessons are arranged to follow the standard sequence of the course. But the order in
which you read them can be changed to correspond with the textbook you are now using.
The module is divided into two lessons, namely:

Lesson 1 – Relative and Absolute Dating Lesson 2 –
Fossils: Evidence of the Past
After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. explain how relative and absolute dating were used to determine the subdivisions of
geologic time;
2. observe how rocks are arranged;
3. show understanding in performing dating methods.
4. identify what are index fossils and their significance.
5. sequence information using items which overlap specific sets.
6. show how fossils can be used to give relative dates to rock layers.
7. investigate sample of fossils to figure out the organism.
What I Know
Directions: Multiple choice questions. Choose the correct answer. Write you answer on a separate
sheet of paper.
1. What radioactive decay used by the Scientist to measure time?

A. Absolute time C. Relative time
B. Half – lives D. Time of day
2. How can a geologist say that dinosaur fossil is younger than a trilobite fossil and more than 60
million years old?
A. By dating the age of the fossil by using relative dating.
B. By dating the age of the fossil by using absolute dating.
C. Scientist are unable to determine the age of the dinosaur.
D. By dating the age of the fossil by using both absolute and relative dating.
1 SDOIN_Core_STEM_Q2_EarthScience11_Module13
3. Scientist use various methods to determine the age of objects found within the Earth. Which of the
following is the most accurate?
A. Absolute dating C. Both a and b
B. Relative dating D. Neither a nor b
4. The law of superposition states that in undistributed horizontal sedimentary rock layers, the oldest
layers are at the bottom and the younger layers at the top. During which type of dating would
scientist use the Law of Superposition?
5. What is the length of time it takes for half-life of a radioactive element isotope to decay into a
stable decay into a stable element?
A. Index fossils C. Radioactive decay
B. Law of Superposition D. all of the above
6. What is an example of parent isotope?

A. Argon C. Strontium
B. Lead D. Uranium
7. What is method used to date rocks older than 100 000 years?
A. Carbon-14 method C. Uranium-Lead method
B. Potassium-Argon method D. Rubidium-Strontium method
8. Which of the following geologic events in sequential order as determined their positions in the
rock record?
A. Absolute dating C. Relative dating
B. Correlation D. Uniformitarianism
9. What is radioactive dates?

A. Measuring the number of unstable isotopes present.
B. Measuring the number of atoms that decay per unit time.
C. The ratio of unstable parent material and stable daughter product present in a sample.
D. None of these choices
10. Which of the following radioactive dates are effective and useful (accurate) for the past?
A. 5 000 years C. 100, 000 years
B. 50, 000 years D. none of these choices
Lesson Relative and Absolute Dating
1
Geologists often need to know the age of material that they find. They use absolute dating
methods, sometimes called numerical dating, to give rocks an actual date, or date range, in number of
years. This is different from relative dating, which only puts geological events in time order. Relative
dating is used to arrange geological events and the rocks they leave behind, in a sequence. Relative
dating does not provide actual numerical dates for the rocks. Most absolute dates for rocks are
obtained with radiometric methods which use radioactive minerals in rocks as geological clocks.
What’s In
LOOKING BACK TO YOUR LESSON
The previous module focuses on the different methods (relative and absolute dating) of
determining the age of stratified rocks. Before you proceed on this module, let’s first refresh your
learnings from the previous module.
Activity 1. Let’s Get Rumble!
Directions: Arrange the jumbled letters to complete the statements correctly. Write your answer on a
separate sheet of paper. The first and last letters are done for you.
1. GOLOSEGITS try to determine the order in which events have happened during Earth’s history.
2. The process of determining whether an event or object is older or younger than
other events or objects is called RAVELTIE NADTIG.
3. SPREITUPOSION states that younger rocks lie above older rocks, if the layers have not been
disturbed.
4. A FALUT is a break in the Earth’s crust along which blocks of the crust slide
relative to one another.
5. An IONRUSTIN is a molten rock from the Earth’s interior that squeezes into
existing rock and cools.
6. FLONDIG occurs when rock layers bend and buckle from Earth’s internal forces.
7. TLITNIG occurs when internal forces in the Earth slant rock layers.
8. UNOCNFTIORMY is a break in the geologic record created when rock layers are eroded or
when sediment is not deposited for a long period of time.
9. ASTBOLUE DANTIG is any method of measuring the age of an event or object in years.
10. Atoms of the same element that have the same number of protons, but different numbers of
neutrons are called IESOOTPS.
What is New
Do you have it takes to be geologist and paleontologist? Get your safety gears on because
we’ll be digging a lot of minerals on this module!
Activity 2. Dating Earth’s History
Directions: Examine the following image of rock layers below and answer the following questions
about relative time. Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper.
Source: https://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images
1. Which sequence of letters best represents the order in which the letters represent the older in which
the layers were formed from oldest to youngest?
A. C, D, B, A, F, E C. C, B, F, E, D, A
B. B, D, F, C, E, A D. A, B, D, C, E, F
2. An unconformity is present between layers .
A. C and F C. B and D
B. C and B D. A and B
3. How do layers of rocks explain the history of Earth?
4. How is absolute dating used to determine the age of stratified rocks?
5. What significant events happened throughout Earth’s history?
What is It
Dating techniques
Are used by scientist in the field of geology to determine the age of rocks. The geologist
establishes the age of rocks in two ways: relative and absolute dating.
Relative Dating is used to arrange geological events and the rocks they leave behind in a
sequence. It is based on the Principle of Superposition which the scientist evaluates the of rocks in order
of geological events. Rock successions are sequence of rocks that are ordered in which they are
deposited. Relative age cannot specify the actual age, whether the rock is younger or older than
another. The relative age is determined by its position within the strata. Relative dating requires an
extensive knowledge of stratigraphic succession, this a term on the way of the rock strata is build up
and change by geologic processes. By studying it paleontologist and geologist are able to interpret the
formation of the strata and learn the environment long time ago. If the sediment layer is thick, there is a
stable climate. When the layers appear in the strata, the is a change happens.
Absolute dating is a method of measuring the absolute age of an event or object. In

determining the absolute age of rocks and fossils, scientist analyzes isotopes of radioactive elements.
Isotopes are atom of a same element which have the similar number of protons, but they have different
numbers of neutrons. Most of the isotopes are stable that they are in their original form. The other
isotopes are unstable, they need to break down into stable isotopes or other elements. And so, they are
called radioactive.
Radioactive decay, it is occurring on a steady state, we can use the relative
amounts of unstable and stable isotopes present to determine the age of an object. It breaks down
unstable radioactive isotopes into stable isotopes. Parent isotope, it is the unstable radioactive
isotopes. Daughter isotopes, it is the stable isotope produced by the radioactive decay of the parent
isotope.
The rate of radioactive decay is constant, that is why comparing the amount of parent material
with the amount of the daughter material is important in dating rocks. In other words, the more
daughter material there is, the older the rock.
Half-life common isotopes
Parent isotope Half-life Stable daughter
Uranium-235 704 million years Lead-207
Potassium-40 1.25 billion years Argon-40
Uranium-238 4.5 billion years Lead-206
Thorium-232 14.0 billion years Lead-208
Lutetium-176 35.9 billion years Hafnim-176
Rubidium-87 48.8 billion years Strontium-87
Samarium-147 106 billion years Neodymium-143
Half-life is the time needed for half of a sample of a radioactive element to undergo
radioactive decay and form daughter isotopes. After one half-life has passed, one-half of the parent
isotope has changed into daughter isotopes.
Radioactive dating, scientists study the amounts of parent and daughter isotopes to date
samples. They find the absolute age of a sample by determining the relative percentages of a
radioactive parent isotope and a stable daughter isotope is called radiometric dating.
What is the Best Rock for Radiometric Dating?
1. Igneous rocks are the best types of rock samples to use for radiometric dating.
2. When igneous rocks form, minerals in them often contain only a parent isotope and none
of the daughter isotope.
3. This makes the isotope percentages easier to interpret and helps dating to be more
accurate.
What are Some Radiometric Dating Methods?
1. Potassium-Argon Dating - used to date igneous volcanic rocks that are 100,000 years to
billions of years old.
2. Uranium-Lead Dating - based on measuring the amount of the lead-206 daughter isotope
in a sample. Uranium-lead dating can be used to determine the age of igneous rocks that are
between 100 million years and a few billion years old.
3. Rubidium-Strontium dating - a radiometric dating technique use by
scientist to determine the age of rocks and minerals from the age of rocks and minerals from
the quantities they contain of specific isotopes of rubidium (87Rb) and strontium (87Sr
,86Sr). in this method it used rocks which older than 10 million years.
4. Radiocarbon Dating - a method used for dating wood, bones, shells, and other organic
remains.
All living things have a constant ratio of radioactive carbon14 to carbon-12. Once a plant or
an animal dies, no more carbon is taken in. The ratio between the isotope’s changes because
carbon-14 undergoes radioactive decay.
The half-life of carbon-14 is 5,730 years. The number of half-lives of carbon- 14 that have
passed gives the absolute age. Radiocarbon dating can be used to date organic matter only. This
method is used to date things that lived in the last 45,000 years.
What’s More
Activity 3. Just Shake! Shake! Shake! (Radioactive dating model) Materials
• 100 pieces one-peso coin/100 pieces of Uranium-235

• Carboard box with lid/any container with cover
• Pencil
A rock or fossil may be dated by measuring the relative amount of a stable element with its
radioactive parent element. As the rock ages, the amount of radioactive element becomes less, and the
amount of stable element increases. Examine the graph to see the decrease of a radioactive element
over time.
Procedures:
1. Place 100 pieces of one-peso coins face up in the cardboard box and cover the carboard box with the
lid.
Shake the coins in the box for 10 seconds.
Take off the lid and take out all coins that are facing down.
As you take the coins out, do not put the coins back in the carboard box
In the table, record the number of coins facing down that you take out from the box.
Repeat steps 3 to 5. Do it until there is no coins facing up upon shaking.
Next, construct a graph your recorded data. On the y-axis plot the number of coins facing up. And on
the x-axis, put the number of trials or times you shake the box.
Data and Results
Table 1
Trials 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Number of coins remains 100
Number of coins removed 0
Note: The number of trials in the table is 8. If all the coins are taken out before the 8th trial its ok. But
if there are still coins facing up after the 8th trial, add another table and record it on the table.
Same as to the graph add another grid if the number of trials is more than.
Guide Questions:
1. What happens to the number of coins remaining after each trial?
2. How does the shaking of the box represent the energy given off by the radioactive elements when
they become stable?
3. How this model is similar to the decay of a radioactive element?
100 pieces of Uranium-235 as an alternative to 100-peso coins
U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235
U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235
U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235
U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235
U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235
U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235
U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235
U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235
U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235
U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235 U-235
Activity 4. Reflective Learning
Directions: Write a reflective learning on what you have learned about the concepts, how relative and
absolute dating were used to determine the subdivisions of geologic time by answering
the questions inside the box. You may express your answers in a more critical and
creative presentation of your great learning. Write your answer on a separate sheet of
paper. Have fun and enjoy!
What I have Learned
1. Absolute dating: Determining the number of years that have elapsed since an event
occurred or the specific time when that event occurred
2. Daughter isotope: The isotope that forms as a result of radioactive decay
3. Half-life: The amount of time it takes for half of the parent isotopes to radioactively
decay to daughter isotopes
4. Isotopes: Varieties of the same element that have the same number of protons, but
different numbers of neutrons
5. Parent isotope: The atomic nucleus that undergoes radioactive decay
6. Radioactivity (radioactive): An unstable isotope spontaneously emits radiation from its
atomic nucleus
7. Radioactive decay: The process by which unstable isotopes transform to stable isotopes of
the same or different elements by a change in the number of protons and neutrons in the
atomic nucleus
8. Radiocarbon dating: Radiometric dating technique that uses the decay of 14C in organic
material, such as wood or bones, to determine the absolute age of the material
9. Radiometric dating: Determination of the absolute age of rocks and minerals using certain
radioactive isotopes
10. Relative dating: Rocks and structures are placed into chronological order, establishing the
age of one thing as older or younger than another.
What I Can Do
Activity 5. Build a Time Scale
Directions: Build up a young person’s timescale using similar principles to the construction of
a geological timescale. Perform each of the task given and answer the questions that
follow. Use the rubrics attached while answering the Guide Questions. Write your
answer on a separate sheet of paper.
Note: Relative dating places events in a person’s life into a sequence. Absolute dating
puts actual dates to some of these events.
1. Look at the Geologic time scale of the Earth how it is constructed using eons divided into
shorter eras, periods, epochs and ages.
2. Draw three boxes and write the following words in each box. The words should be in time order,
with the earliest event at the bottom. Write the word ‘Eras’ at the top as a label for
column.
 INFANT
 YOUNG ADULT
 CHILD
3. Draw six boxes. Two boxes should be drawn beside each of the boxes drawn in step number 2.
Then write each of these words/phrases:
 BABY
 PRESCHOOL/KINDY
 PRE-TEEN
 PRIMARY SCHOOL
 TEEN
 TODDLER
Use these as subdivisions of the eras, again in time order with the earliest at the bottom. Label this
new column ‘Periods’. The boxes might look like the image below.
4. Choose some events that might mark the change from one period to another. These might include
learning to walk, starting kinder, starting secondary school and so on. Write these next to the
appropriate part of the ‘Periods’ column.
5. The timescale so far is only a relative one – there are no actual dates. You should now decide
where they are on the timescale now. For example, they might be just above the ‘start secondary
school’ point. That is time ‘0’, so write that in the correct place on the timescale. How long
ago was the first event below ‘0’? For example, you might have started secondary school 2
years ago – write ‘2 years ago’ next to the event. Continue to write dates for all the events.
6. You should now have a completed timescale, with a relative sequence of events, some of which
have actual years associated with them.
Guide Questions:
1. Are all the timescales the same? Why/why not?

2. Are all the eras or periods the same length?
3. What events mark the boundaries between eras? Can these be dated?
Assessment
Directions: Choose the answer that best fits the question or statement. Write the chosen letter on a
separate sheet of paper.
1. What is an example of parent isotope?

A. Argon C. Strontium
B. Lead D. Uranium
2. What is method used to date rocks older than 100 000 years?
A. Carbon-14 method C. Rubidium-Strontium method
B. Potassium-Argon method D. Uranium-Lead method
3. What radioactive decay used by scientist to measure?

A. Absolute time C. Relative time
B. Half – lives D. Time of day
4. How can a geologist say that dinosaur fossil is younger than a trilobite fossil and more than 60
million years old?
A. By dating the age of the fossil by using relative dating.
B. By dating the age of the fossil by using absolute dating.
C. Scientist are unable to determine the age of the dinosaur.
D. By dating the age of the fossil by using both absolute and relative dating.
5. Scientist use various methods to determine the age of objects found within the Earth. Which of the
following is the most accurate?
6. The law of superposition states that in undistributed horizontal sedimentary rock layers, the oldest
layers are at the bottom and the younger layers at the top. During which type of dating would
scientist use the Law of Superposition?
7. What is the length of time it takes for half-life of a radioactive element isotope to decay into a
stable decay into a stable element?
A. Index fossils C. Radioactive decay
B. Law of Superposition D. all of the above
8. Which of the following geologic events in sequential order as determined their positions in the
rock record?
A. Absolute dating C. Relative dating
B. Correlation D. Uniformitarianism
9. Which of the following radioactive dates are effective and useful (accurate) for the past?
A. 5 000 years C. 10, 000 years
B. 100, 000 years D. None of these choices
10. What is radioactive dates?

A. Measuring the number of unstable isotopes present.
B. Measuring the number of atoms that decay per unit time.
C. The ratio of unstable parent material and stable daughter product present in a sample.
D. None of these choices
Additional Activities
Activity 6. All about Relative and Absolute Dating
Directions: Let’s further check your skills as a geologist through answering the
following: Write the chosen letter on a separate sheet of paper.
A. Tell whether the statement is Absolute or Relative
1. The red car cost P4, 508, 696. 56 and the silver cost P1, 001, 932.57.
2. The red car cost more than the silver car.
3. The red car is 4 times more expensive than the silver car.
4. The silver car is 2 years old.
5. The red car is newer than the silver car.
What I Know
FILL IN THE BLANKS
Directions: Supply the statements with the correct word/term. Choose your answer inside the box.
Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper.
Fossil Trace fossils Fossilization Extinct

Preserved Index fossils Rock
Trilobite Sandstone Sedimentary
1. A fossil is an organism over 10,000 years ago.

2. A paleontologists is a scientist who studies .
3. Fossils are found mostly in sedimentary .
4. are signs that living organisms were present.
5. serves as a guide or indicator of certain geologic periods.
6. A type of sedimentary rock that is made of sand is called .
7. is a process by which the remains of ancient living things are turned to rock.
8. An is a species is one that has died out.
9. An organism often used as an index fossil is a .
10. The type of rock in which most fossils are found is .
Lesson Fossils: Evidence of the Past
2
Geologist make observations about the rocks found in an area and try to piece together the story
rocks tell over geologic time. Fossils are preserved remains or traces on the rocks of animals, plants
and other organisms from the distant past.
In this lesson, you are going to determine the importance of fossils as evidence of the past.
What’s In
The Phanerozoic Eon is divided into three chunks of time called eras—the Paleozoic, the
Mesozoic, and the Cenozoic. Their life span is about 540 million years ago to the present. Each era
will describe the different types of organisms developed at different times.
Activity 1. The Era Time
Directions: Using the word bank, complete the table below.
First humans First birds First insects

First plant flowers First grasses First mammals
First reptiles Age of Dinosaurs
Paleozoic Mesozoic Cenozoic
What’s New
Activity 2. Dating with Index Fossils

Do you have it takes to be geologist and paleontologist? Get your safety gears
on because we’ll be digging a lot of minerals on this module!
Directions: Read the indicated procedures and perform the tasks that follows, then answer the
questions after the activity was made. Use the rubrics attached while answering the
guide questions. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.
Procedures:
1. Draw a four-layer cake and include candles.
2. You aren’t very hungry and only want to eat the third layer of the cake, which has your
favorite food, chocolate chips. To make sure you know that you are eating the right layer:
 The chocolate chips must be only in this layer – if they were in all of the layers you
wouldn’t know which one the right layer was.
 The chocolate chips must be found all throughout the cake, not just in one small area.
 There must be lots of chocolate chips in this layer so that they are easy to find.
 The chocolate chips must look like chocolate chips.
3. We use the same method to determine which fossils are good index fossils.
4. Look at the three fossils within the column and predict which fossils are index fossils.
Note: MYA means “millions of years ago,” and that the black bars represent the length
of time fossils of this type formed.
Hint – look for where the “chocolate chips” (i.e., the fossils) are only in one layer of the “cake”
(i.e., the timescale).
Source: http://studentorgs.vanderbilt.edu/vsvs
Guide Questions:
1. Which fossils are index fossils, and which are not?
2. For the ones that are index fossils, what time period are they useful for dating the rocks from?
3. What are the four requirements for being an index fossil?
4. Why are fossils useful?
Source: https://www.ck12.org/book/ck-12-earth-science-for-high-school/section/11.2/
What Is It
Fossil is a preserved remains or traces of plants, animals, and other organisms from the past.
It provides evidence of the past events in Earth’s geological history. Most fossils are preserved in
sedimentary rock. Sediments build up over time and bury the remains and traces of dead organisms.
Fossilization is the process by which the remains of ancient living things are turned to rock. If
we say Fossil record, this are the history of life as documented by all fossils which preserved in
sedimentary rock strata while an Index fossil, serves as a guide or indicator of certain geologic
periods. This are used to correlate the age of the rock strata. If two different rocks in different areas on
the earth contain the same index fossils, then probably the strata have the same age.
Characteristics of index fossils includes easily recognizable, abundant and wide geologic
distribution. The study of fossils is called paleontology and scientists who study fossils are known as
paleontologists.
Fossils can be grouped into two broad categories: body fossils and trace fossils. When we say
Trace fossils include tracks, burrows, or dung from animals. These are any evidence that the
animal lived that isn’t an actual part of the animal’s body. They form because an empty
animal burrow or track can be preserved. These are signs that living organisms were present.
However, they do not include or represent the body parts of an organism. Body fossils are the
mineralized hard remains of an organism or an imprint left from the remains. In these fossils, we
should see actual features of the living organisms. Amber is the hardened form of this tree resin.
Coprolite are fossilized dinosaur dung (scat). A mold is created when fine sediments surround a fossil
organism or part of an organism, preserving its shape. Leaf impressions are molds.
Other sediments that fill in the hole left by the organism are known as casts. Fossils tell us
more than just what life-forms inhabited Earth. They also provide clues to ancient environments.
Source:https://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images
When paleontologists find fossil fish or the remains of other organisms that resemble modern
life-forms that live in oceans or lakes, they infer that they are looking at an ancient underwater
environment. Although most sedimentary rocks are the result of material deposited in water, land
derived sedimentary rocks are also common.
Fossils are the most important source of information about extinct species.
An extinct species is one that has died out.
What’s More
Activity 3. Forever Fossils
Directions: Read the procedures carefully. Perform the tasks as specified and answer the
interpretation questions. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.
Procedures:
1. Carefully examine the set of cards 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. All of
the fossils represented would be found in sedimentary rocks of marine origin. Figure 1-A gives
some background information on the individual fossils.
2. The oldest rock layer is marked with the letter "M" in the lower left-hand corner. The letters on the
other cards have no significance to the sequencing procedure and should be ignored. Find a rock
layer that has at least one of the fossils you found in the oldest rock layer. This rock layer would be
younger as indicated by the appearance of new fossils in the rock stratum. Keep in mind that
extinction is forever. Once an organism disappears from the sequence it cannot reappear later. Use
this information to sequence the cards in a vertical stack of fossils in rock strata. Arrange them
from oldest to youngest with the oldest layer on the bottom and the youngest on top.
Interpretation Questions:
1.) 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 (i.e., from the top of the vertical stack to the bottom).
This will enable your teacher to quickly check whether you have the correct sequence.
Source: https://ucmp.berkeley.edu/fosrec/BarBar.html
2.) Which fossil organisms could possibly be used as index fossils?
3.) Name three organisms represented that probably could not be used as index fossils and
explain why.
4.) In what kinds of rocks might you find the fossils from this activity?
5.) State the Law of Superposition and explain how this activity illustrates this law.
Figure 1-A. Sketches of Marine Fossil Organisms (Not to Scale)
Source: https://ucmp.berkeley.edu/fosrec/BarBar.html
Activity 4. Fill Me In
Directions: Fill in the blank and choose your answer in the box provided. Write your answer on a separate
paper.
preserved remains past climates sedimentary rock

motions of plates permineralization replacement
molds and casts major geological events compression
microfossils must be easily recognizable adaptations
Fossilization lived for only a short time mass extinction
Living fossils geographically widespread variation
1. Fossils are our best form of evidence about the history of life on Earth, in addition, fossils can give
us clues about , , and
.
2. Index fossils are the preserved remains of specific species found in the strata of
.
3. Most fossils are preserved in one of five processes; ,
, , and , .
4. Ammonites, trilobites, and graptolites are often used as index fossils, as are various , or
fossils of microscopic organisms.
5. are organisms that have existed for a tremendously long period of
time without changing very much at all.
6. To be considered an index fossil, it must meet 3 criteria: The fossilized organism
(a).
(b).
(c).
7. The process of a once living organism becoming a fossil is called .
8. An amazing diversity of organisms on Earth and it is called as .
9. The characteristics of an organism that help it survive in each environment are called .
10. The eras of the Phanerozoic Eon are separated by events called .
What I Have Learned
Fossil is a preserved remains or traces of plants, animals, and other organisms from the
past.
Fossilization is the process by which the remains of ancient living things are turned to rock.
Fossil record, this are the history of life as documented by all fossils which preserved in
sedimentary rock strata.
Index fossil, serves as a guide or indicator of certain geologic periods.
Trace fossils include tracks, burrows, or dung from animals. These are any evidence that the
animal lived that isn’t an actual part of the animal’s body.
Body fossils are the mineralized hard remains of an organism or an imprint
left from the remains.
Amber is the hardened form of this tree resin. Coprolite are fossilized dinosaur dung
(scat). A mold is created when fine sediments surround a fossil organism or
part of an organism, preserving its shape. Leaf impressions are molds. Other sediments that fill in the
hole left by the organism are known as casts.
Activity 5. “Vocabulary Words to Remember!”
Directions: Arrange the following jumbled vocabulary words. Write your answer on a separate paper.
1. B E R A M Fossilized tree sap.
2. S O F L I S Any remains or trace of an ancient organism.
3. A T O R I C P L A climate that is warm and humid.
4. T A C S A structure that forms when sediments fill a mold and harden, forming a
replica of the original structure.
5. E A R I N M Of or belonging to the sea.
6. D O L M An impression made in sediments by the hard
parts of an organism.
7. C R E T A L O S F S I Evidence of the activity of an ancient organism. Examples
include tracks, trails, burrows, tubes, boreholes, and bite marks.
8. L I A R S E R E T R I L A S Of or belonging to the land
9. L A C I G E R S Large sheets of flowing ice.
10. L E N S T A O O L O G P I T A scientist who studies Earth’s
past life forms.
What I Can Do
How do we know about plants and animals that lived on Earth thousands of years ago? What
is a fossil? A fossil is a remainder of something that lived a long time ago. Many times, fossils can be
imprints of footprints or bones. To make a fossil, a footprint or a dead animal or plant first gets covered
with soil, mud or silt. Eventually, the organism decomposes and the hard parts (such as the bones) are
left to make an imprint in the soil.
Activity 6. Make a Fossil
Directions: Today, we are going to focus on the process of how fossils are made, and we'll ignore the
fact that most of the organism would be decomposed. So, imagine this is a dying
organism, and he falls to the muddy ground. Eventually, let's say this organism gets
covered by more mud. Over time, the mud hardens so we can break open the mud and
observe the fossil (ignoring the now decomposed organism). Let's model this exact
process, using modelling clay. Use the rubrics attached to evaluate the fossil made by
the students.
MATERIALS
Reusable or modeling clay, or salt dough (recipe below)

Natural items such as seashell, leaf, twig, clean chicken or fish bone White glue
A. Make a mold fossil:

1. Give each student a ball of reusable or modeling clay or salt dough.
2. Roll, soften and flatten the clay. This represents the sediment such as sand or silt.
3. Press the shell, or other object, into the clay.
4. Very carefully remove the shell from the clay.
B. Make a cast fossil:

1. Create a fossil mold but do not press the object very deeply into the clay.
2. Fill the fossil mold with white glue. This represents sediments accumulating in the
impression over time.
3. After 24 hours, gently pull the dried glue off. This represents the cast fossil. Over time the
organism’s shell would deteriorate and the impression would fill with sediments.
After thousands of years, minerals from sediment and/or groundwater harden forming a
cast fossil of the mollusk.
See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3QRm5b-fFc
C. Salt Dough Recipe (You can use this if modelling clay is not available)
1 cup salt
2 cups flour
¾ - 1 cup water
Mix the salt and flour together. Add the water a little at a time until you have a thick
dough. You do not want it to crumble, but you also do not want it too wet and sticky.
Art Project Grading Rubric
Assessment
Directions: Choose the answer that best fits the question or statement. Write the chosen letter on a separate
sheet of paper.
1. The remain or trace of a living thing that lived long ago is a

A. Eon B. Mammoth
B. Fossil C. Mold
2. If you want to know the specific age of a rock or fossil, you are looking for the:
A. Absolute age C. Relative age
B. Index fossil D. Time scale
3. In relation to fossils, amber is which of the following:

A. A color C. A girl fossil’s name
B. A fossil fuel D. Hardened tree sap
4. When the hard parts of an organism decay and leave a cavity in the rock, what forms?
A. Cast fossil C. Index fossil
B. Imprint fossil D. Mold fossil
5. The three types of fossils are:

A. Amber, tar, ice C. Molds, casts, imprints
B. Eon, era, period D. Oil, gas, coal
6. An index fossil
A. Lived for only a short period of time.
B. Is used to determine the ages of rock layers.
C. Was abundant and wide spread geographically.
D. All of the above
7. The type of rock in which most fossils are found is:

A. Igneous C. Metamorphic
B. Erratic D. Sedimentary
8. What does the rock and fossil record represent?

A. Index fossils C. the Age of Mammals
B. Geologic time D. the Age of Reptiles
9. How do scientists use the fossil record?
A. To prove how the dinosaurs became extinct.
B. To find examples of all living things that ever lived on the planet.
C. To gather evidence to help them form theories about the history of life on Earth.
D. To gather information about soft, jelly-like animals such as worms, jelly fish, and slug .
10. A student finds a fossil of a fish and concludes that the fossil must be made of sedimentary
rock. What evidence best supports the student’s conclusion?
A. Nearly all fossils form in sedimentary rock.
B. Only marine fossils form in sedimentary rock.
C. Fish fossils only form on the shore in sedimentary rocks.
D. Sedimentary rocks are different colors and fish bones will fossilize well in this type of
rock.
Additional Activity
Since we only have one outcrop, we do not need to worry about the criteria being widespread.
We do need to look at the criteria of being short-lived which means the index fossil will be found in one
layer(s). Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper.
1. Which layer(s) contain Fossil A?

2. Which layer(s) contain Fossil B?
3. Which layer(s) contain Fossil C?
4. Which layer(s) contain Fossil D?
5. Which layer(s) contain Fossil E?
6. Which layer(s) contain Fossil F?
7. Therefore the index fossil is Fossil
.
8. The longest-lived fossil is Fossil
because it was found in
layers.
9. Determine the relative age of the
fossils:
(youngest fossil)
(oldest fossil)
References
McConnel D., Steer D., Knight C., Owens K & Park L. (2010). The Good Earth introduction to Earth
Science . New York, United States of America: McGraw- Hill international Edition.
Bayo-ang, R., Coronacion, M., Jorda, A., & Restubog, A. (2016). Earth and Life Science for Senior
High School. (M. Moncada, Ed.) Quezon City, Philippines: Educational Resources Corporation.
Lutgens F., & Tarbuck E. (2017) Foundations of Earth Science. United States of America: Pearson
Education Inc.
Science Learning Hub – Pokapū Akoranga Pūtaiao, The University of Waikato.(2018).Retrieved

online on July 13, 2020 from
https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/videos/1807formationofsedimentaryrockla yers
Science Learning Hub – Pokapū Akoranga Pūtaiao, The University of

Waikato.(2018).Rock Layers and Relative Dating. Retrieved online on July 14,2020 from
www.sciencelearn.org.nz
Geologic Time Scale. 2020. American Geosciences Institute. Retrieved from July 15, 2020 from
http://www.earthsciweek.org/content /geologic-time-scale/
Lakdawall, Emily. 2013. Relative and Absolute ages in the histories of the Earth and
the Moon: The Geologic Time Scale. The Planetary Society. Retrieved online on
July15,2020fromhttp://www.planetary.org/blogs/emilylakdawalla/2013/09 301225geologicme-
scale-earth-moon.html
Hendricks, et.al. 2015. The Digital Atlas of Ancient Life: delivering information on
paleontologyandbiogeographyviatheweb.PalaeontologiaElectronica,Article182
.3E.RetrievedonlineonJuly15,2020fromhttps://www.digitalatlasofancientlife. org/about/
PCCUA English Department Writing Rubric. Retrieved online on July 16, 2020 from www.pccua.edu
McConnel D., Steer D., Knight C., Owens K & Park L. (2010). The Good Earth introduction
to Earth Science. New York, United States of America: McGraw-Hill international
Edition.
Bayo-ang, R., Coronacion, M., Jorda, A., & Restubog, A. (2016). Earth and Life Science for Senior
High School. (M. Moncada, Ed.) Quezon City, Philippines: Educational Resources
Corporation.
Lutgens F., & Tarbuck E. (2017) Foundations of Earth Science. United States of America: Pearson
Education Inc.
Barber, et.al. Who’s On First?. Retrieved online on July 17, 2020 from
https://ucmp.berkeley.edu/fosrec/BarBar.html
Mani K., et.al. 2004. Fossils: Window to the Past. UC Berkeley. Retrieved online on July17,2020from
Watson John., et.al. 1997. Fossils and Rocks. USGS Geologic Information-General Interest Pubs.
Retrieved online on July 17, 2020 from https://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/fossils/contents.html/
M.J.Krech.2008.TheMysteryFossilBones.RetrievedonlineonJuly17,202fromhttps://
www.teacherplanet.com/content/fossils
Barclay, Kevin., et.al. 2017. Earth Science 11/Geology 12 Resource Unit. Mineral
Resources Education Program of BC. Retrieved online on July 17, 2020 from
https://www.mineralsed.ca
Vanderbilt Student Volunteers for Science. 2012. Retrieved online on July 18, 2020 from
http://studentorgs.vanderbilt.edu/vsvs
Online Resources
https://www.slideshare.net/flynnbolick/ch13-geologictime https://slideplayer.com/slide/4449926/
https://slideplayer.com/slide/8594574/ https://slideplayer.com/slide/8560744/
https://slideplayer.com/slide/10707650/ https://slideplayer.com/slide/10707650/
https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/High_School_Earth_Science/Geologic_Time_.
https://www2.humboldt.edu/natmus/lifeThroughTime/Timeline/TimeScale
https://ucmp.berkely.edu/paleo/fossils/index.html
For inquiries and feedback, please write or call:
Schools Division of Ilocos Norte – Curriculum Implementation Division Learning Resource

Management Section (SDOIN-CID LRMS)
Office Address : Brgy. 7B, Giron Street, Laoag City, Ilocos Norte Telefax
: (077) 771-0960
Telephone No. : (077) 770-5963, (077) 600-2605
E-mail Address : sdoin.lrmds@deped.gov.ph
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CORE EARTH SCIENCE11 Q2 Mod13 W6 Investigating The Age of The Past

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Published by the Department of Education

Development Team of the Module

Writer: Editor: Pedro A. Guillermo

Division Design & Layout Artist: Jannibal A. Lojero, Rey L. Miguel

Printed in the Philippines by

MELCs: Explain how relative and absolute dating were used to

Describe how index fossils (also known as guide fossils)

The module is divided into two lessons, namely:

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. What radioactive decay used by the Scientist to measure time?

6. What is an example of parent isotope?

9. What is radioactive dates?

LOOKING BACK TO YOUR LESSON

Activity 1. Let’s Get Rumble!

Activity 2. Dating Earth’s History

Absolute dating is a method of measuring the absolute age of an event or object. In

What is the Best Rock for Radiometric Dating?

Activity 3. Just Shake! Shake! Shake! (Radioactive dating model) Materials

• 100 pieces one-peso coin/100 pieces of Uranium-235

Data and Results

100 pieces of Uranium-235 as an alternative to 100-peso coins

What I have Learned

1. Are all the timescales the same? Why/why not?

1. What is an example of parent isotope?

3. What radioactive decay used by scientist to measure?

10. What is radioactive dates?

Activity 6. All about Relative and Absolute Dating

A. Tell whether the statement is Absolute or Relative

FILL IN THE BLANKS

Fossil Trace fossils Fossilization Extinct

1. A fossil is an organism over 10,000 years ago.

Activity 1. The Era Time

Directions: Using the word bank, complete the table below.

First humans First birds First insects

Paleozoic Mesozoic Cenozoic

Activity 2. Dating with Index Fossils

Activity 3. Forever Fossils

2.) Which fossil organisms could possibly be used as index fossils?

preserved remains past climates sedimentary rock

What I Have Learned

Activity 5. “Vocabulary Words to Remember!”

Activity 6. Make a Fossil

Reusable or modeling clay, or salt dough (recipe below)

A. Make a mold fossil:

B. Make a cast fossil:

Art Project Grading Rubric

1. The remain or trace of a living thing that lived long ago is a

3. In relation to fossils, amber is which of the following:

5. The three types of fossils are:

7. The type of rock in which most fossils are found is:

8. What does the rock and fossil record represent?

1. Which layer(s) contain Fossil A?

Science Learning Hub – Pokapū Akoranga Pūtaiao, The University of Waikato.(2018).Retrieved

Science Learning Hub – Pokapū Akoranga Pūtaiao, The University of

Schools Division of Ilocos Norte – Curriculum Implementation Division Learning Resource

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