For a more visual description go to gonyoscience.com/building a geologic timeline

The Building a Geologic Timeline bundle will introduce students to Earth's geologic past. The intro presentation is designed to hold student's attention while giving them a better understanding of both biological and physical events of Earth's past. The timeline building activity will allow students to will see how life on Earth has progressed from single celled organisms to dinosaurs to early mammals and life as we know it today. Physical events such as coal and oil formation, mountain building, and continental drift will also be placed in chronological order. This visual representation of Earth's Geologic history will help to put it all into perspective.

This activity includes:

Building a Geologic Timeline presentation (PowerPoint and PDF)
Geologic Timeline Large Scale (PDF)
Geologic Timeline Small Scale (PDF)
Geologic Timeline Grand Tour (PDF)
Geologic Timeline Grand Tour answer key (PDF)
Chart of Geologic Time (PDF)
Chart of Geologic Time Española (PDF)


Begin with the Building a Geologic Timeline presentation. This presentation will give an introduction to Geologic Time as well as detailed instructions for assembling the timeline. This presentation can be viewed as a PowerPoint presentation or as a PDF. Students can view as a class, in small groups, or individually. The presentation can be printed to a booklet or viewed on a computer or iPad.
Next you will want to decide if students will work on the Large scale timeline (about 20 feet long) or the Small scale timeline (about 12 feet long). Also, decide if you want students to work in small groups of 2-4 students or as an entire class to collaborate on one classroom timeline. Print the number of copies of the appropriate timeline pages for your students. To assemble the timeline, students will also need scissors, transparent tape, and colored pencils (if they will be coloring the timeline).
Students will then use their completed timeline and The Chart of Geologic Time to complete the Geologic Timeline Grand Tour. An answer key is included.
This activity will take students 5-10 class periods depending upon the number of students working together.

RELATED PRODUCTS:

Fossil Lab
Interactive Rock Identification
Biulding a Dinosaur: Stegosaurus
Building a Dinosaur: Tyrannosaurus rex