G7+History+of+Earth


 * The Earth will soon turn five...billion. Scientists have determined the age of the Earth as 4.6 billion years.**

This unit contains the following projects.
 * 1) The timeline project.
 * 2) The Geologic Time Scate
 * 3) Plate Tectonics
 * 4) Reflection Questions for "March of the Penguins"

On paper, students will create a time line listing important events in their own life and in Earth's history.
 * A timeline of your life and Earth's life.**
 * 1) First, students should make a list (in their notebook) of one important event for each year of their lives. For example, learning to walk, the birth of a sibling, and moving to China are examples of the types of events to include. Students can even include a few world events which affected them, such as the election of a new national leader or an earthquake their family experienced. The student must include his or her age, in years and months, when the event happened.
 * 2) Once this list is complete, students will draw a line on a piece of paper. The paper is from a long, this roll and is supplied by the teacher. The length of the line represents the length of the student's life. The student decides whether to use 8 cm or 9 cm for each year. Then, the student marks the each birthday on the timeline - year 1, year 2, year 3, etc.
 * 3) In the notebook, the student will write proportions calculating the correct position of each event on the timeline.
 * 4) Finally, the student will place all events in the correct locations on the timeline.


 * The Geologic Time Scale**
 * 1) This powerpoint presentation contains the main ideas about the history of the Earth.[[file:Geologic Time Scale.pdf]]
 * 2) After reviewing the powerpoint, you should follow this link to take a tour of geologic time.
 * 3) Finally, spend some time exploring the geologic time scale found at the Museum of Paleantology.
 * 4) After studying the powerpoint, tour, and time scale, add the following events in Earth's history to your timeline. Use proportions to determine the correct location on the timeline for each event. Write the proportions clearly on a new page in your notebook.
 * the age of the oldest fossils
 * the age of the first land plant fossils
 * the first great extinction
 * the extinction of the dinosaurs
 * one or two other events of your own choosing - to fine these events, explore the geologic time scale link in step 3.

Museum of Paleantology at the University of California has created a whole series of learning activities for students. You can visit the museum's [|homepage] and find many more exciting links, including the museum's [|online exhibits].


 * Plate Tectonics**

You can visit the deepest trench in the ocean HERE. You can study plate tectonics [|HERE].


 * Reflection Questions for "March of the Penguins"**


 * 1) Paragraph #1 - This film has many science themes in it. This year we have studied some of these themes, but not all of them. Before watching this film, pick one or two themes from the list below. While you watch the film, keep the theme in your mind. Remember how the theme is shown in the film, then write a paragraph describing how this theme appears in the movie.
 * winter at the south pole - why does the sun disappear? what month is the coldest, darkest month?
 * continental drift - why do penguins lay their eggs in Antarctica?
 * weather and storms - the atmosphere is the place where weather happens. How does it work?
 * heat and temperature - even in Antarctica, penguins can remain very warm
 * predators and prey - how do animals survive if someone is ready to hunt them? What do they do to find food?
 * 1) Paragraph #2 - Most of us will never visit Antarctica. Science teaches us that it is important to make observations about the world around us, and to create hypotheses based on our observations. This film helps us all make observations about Antarctica. Describes three or four questions that you have about penguins, Antarctica, ice, or any other parts of the film. What observation caused you to ask this question? Why does this question interest you? How would you try to find the answer to this question? Do you have a hypothesis? In other words, what do you think is the answer to the question?