Transcript Unit 3 Earth History Day 3 2016

Unit 3 Earth History: Day 3
Focus: Relative Age of Rocks/Geologic Column
12/7/16
Warm-up – Use your notes to
help you complete the ½ sheet –
“Interpreting Graphics”. You will
tape it on page 4.
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Plan for the Day
1. Review relative age-dating of
rocks and fossils – Review
homework assignment
2. Group written lab activity“Analyzing the Geologic
Column”
3. Wrap-up
Homework
Flash cards 7-9 due tomorrow.
Essential Question –
How can the position of
rock layers help us know
the relative age of the
layers?
Let’s review the homework
sheet “Finding the Relative
Age of Rocks/Grandest
Canyon of All”.
Let’s get some background
information about the geologic
column.
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Scientists piece together these rock
sequences based on the type of rock AND
the fossils in the rock. If they can match
up rock layers (strata) from different
locations that are the same type of rock
(like sandstone) and contain the same
fossils, they can infer that the rock layer
formed at about the same time at all the
different locations. Therefore, the rock
layers and fossils in them must be about
the same age.
In this activity “Analyzing the
Geologic Column”, you are going
to analyze a geologic column
containing rock sequences, also
known as “outcrops”, from 4
different locations. Follow
directions carefully and answer
the analysis questions.
Analyze: A. Is there a place on Earth
that has all the layers of the geologic
column? Explain your answer.
B. If a trilobite fossil that is 400 million
years old is found in a layer of rock, how
can scientists determine the actual age of
the rock layer?
Evaluate: Sharks have existed for millions
and millions of years. Would a shark’s
tooth be a good index fossil? Explain your
answer.
Can you figure out the correct chronological
order of these rock layers and events from
oldest to youngest?
Write a brief geologic history of this rock outcrop
based on the positions of the layers and the events
affecting the layers.
Wrap-up: