Lesson Plans

This suggested lesson plan draws on the experiences of teachers who have used Understanding Geologic Time in a variety of classroom settings. They found that in general, students benefit most if:
  • Students complete the Sequencing Time activity before beginning the module.
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  • Students work in teams of two per computer to allow students to read and share ideas with one another as they proceed.
  • There is time for class discussion of major concepts.
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  • Focus Questions or Scavenger Hunts are used as a way to help students stay on task, or to initiate class discussions.
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    The suggested lesson plan incorporates activities that may be used before and after students complete the module to give students a more complete experience.

    Links to resources are embedded within the lesson plans where they are mentioned. See Assessment Materials for keys to tests and focus questions.

    Please note, we strongly recommend that students be introduced to the concept of "a billion" so they can better understand the references to the long time that Earth has existed. We suggest including some of the examples from the activity How Big is a Billion? to serve this purpose.

    DAY 1. Introduction

    Give students the Geologic Time Pre-Test.

    Complete the Sequencing Time activity in which students gain an understanding of relative and numerical time by placing events of their own lives in sequence. Students become familiar with the methods used by scientists in developing the Geologic Time Scale.

    Ask your students what they know about the age of the Earth and how that age is determined. (See Content Background for assistance.)

    Have them suggest major events in Earth’s history and how long ago they might have occurred.

    Show them an overhead or picture of the Geologic Time Scale and ask them what they know about it.

    Give students a brief overview of the on-line module, and explain how they will navigate.

    DAY 2. Geologic Time Module

  • Explain to students how they will navigate through the module.
  • Encourage students to explore the pages thoroughly.
  • Students complete the module. You may want to use the Focus Questions (Grades 9-12) or the Scavenger Hunt (Grades 5-8) as a guide for the students at this point.

    DAYS 3 and 4. Discussion, Post-Test, and Extensions

    There are several options for activities that can be done following the module. The Geologic Time Post-Test can be included at any time. You may want to:
  • have students complete What Came First in which students gain a better understanding of deep time and become familiar with events in the Earth's history.
  • have students explore certain time periods of time on the UCMP Web Time Machine and share their findings with the class.
  • ask students to write a summary of what they have learned about geologic time, the differences between relative and absolute ages, and the significance of the Geologic Time Scale for a homework assignment. These assignments can be shared in class the following day.
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  • engage students in other related activities that reinforce the concepts learned.
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