Relative Dating of Geologic Materials
This lesson contains original work by Steve Mattox of Grand Valley State University and published materials (AGI lab manual, Tarbuck and Lutgen text).
This activity was selected for the On the Cutting Edge Reviewed Teaching Collection
This activity has received positive reviews in a peer review process involving five review categories. The five categories included in the process are
- Scientific Accuracy
- Alignment of Learning Goals, Activities, and Assessments
- Pedagogic Effectiveness
- Robustness (usability and dependability of all components)
- Completeness of the ActivitySheet web page
For more information about the peer review process itself, please see https://serc.carleton.edu/teachearth/activity_review.html.
This activity has benefited from input from a review and suggestion process as a part of an activity development workshop.
This activity has benefited from input from faculty educators beyond the author through a review and suggestion process as a part of an activity development workshop. Workshop participants were provided with a set of criteria against which they evaluated each others' activities. For information about the criteria used for this review, see http://serc.carleton.edu/teacherprep/workshops/workshop07/activityreview.html.
- First Publication: May 2, 2007
- Reviewed: March 2, 2023 -- Reviewed by the On the Cutting Edge Activity Review Process
Summary
Students progress step by step to build a foundation for how geologists constructed the time scale.
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Learning Goals
Some critical thinking, data analysis, and synthesis of ideas are involve. Students record observations in writing and present data and conclusions to classmates.
Context for Use
Used with preservice teachers but also done with 4th graders in an urban district.
Description and Teaching Materials
Teaching Notes and Tips
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Assessment
See the elaborate and evaluate portions of the lesson.
References and Resources
Contains some diagrams from published works. I did NOT seek permission to publish them.