Geologic Time Discussion Analogies
Initial Publication Date: February 10, 2012
Summary
This is 4 ppt slides used to facilitate discussion w/students about the immensity of geologic time. I ask them a series of leading questions and try to get them to do "mental math" in order to grasp the immensity of billions of years.
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Context
Audience
This is an introductory physical geology course at a community college. The course does not have any prerequisites and most students have never had any earth science before.
Skills and concepts that students must have mastered
Being awake in class.
How the activity is situated in the course
Stand-alone exercise at the beginning of class discussion and lab activities.
Goals
Content/concepts goals for this activity
Immensity of geologic time
Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity
Estimation, comparison, and using analogies
Other skills goals for this activity
Description of the activity/assignment
The slides provide a fun way of discussing the immensity of geologic time and help to grasp the age of the earth, the time gaps between major geologic events, and the relative minuteness of humans time on earth. After the discussion with the class, students are given opportunity to develop their own analogies using "everyday" things (other than the calendar and money examples used in this activity).
Determining whether students have met the goals
Class discussion of student contributions (see above)
More information about assessment tools and techniques.Teaching materials and tips
- Discussion points of the immensity of geologic time (PowerPoint 2007 (.pptx) 91kB Feb8 12)