Earth Systems Curriculum Map #3
Grade Level/Course Key
9th Grade/SC140
Long Description
Earth Systems
Time Frame
Unit
History in the Rocks
(Chapter 8 and 9)
Academic Standards
ESS1-5
ESS1-6
ESS2-1
ESS2-5
ESS2-7
Key/Major Concept/Essential Question(s)
 ESS1-5 relative ages of crustal and ocean rocks, relationship between rocks and their distance
from mid-ocean ridges or continental cores
 ESS1-6 absolute age determined by radiometric dating
 ESS2-1 uniformitarianism, relative age, law of superposition, principle of original horizontality,
unconformities, and cross-cutting relationships
 ESS2-5 rock cycle, the role of the water cycle in erosion, transportation and deposition of
sediments that leads to the formation of rock layers, chemical weathering
 ESS2-7 how life has evolved and changed throughout the geologic time scale
 Types of fossils, process of fossilization, index fossils and absolute age
 Geologic column, divisions of geologic time
 Criteria for beginning and ending divisions of the geologic time scale and a comparison of the
lengths of various geologic eras and periods
 Evolution and evidence for evolution
 Key life forms that define geologic eras and periods
Skill/Target(s)
 Students can compare the relative age of continental and oceanic crust.
 Students can estimate the relative age of continental crust based on its distance from the
continental core.
 Students can estimate the relative age of oceanic crust based on its distance from a mid-ocean
ridge.
 Students can summarize the process of radioactive decay.
 Students can explain how radiometric dating works.
 Students can estimate the absolute age of a sample using radiometric dating.
 Students can differentiate between relative and absolute age.
 Students can explain the principles of uniformitarianism, relative age, law of superposition,
original horizontality, unconformities, and cross-cutting relationships.
 Given a sample rock column, students can use the above principles to determine the relative
age of the rock layers in the column.
 Students can summarize the rock cycle and identify the three main types of rock.
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Students can recognize the role of erosion, chemical weathering, and deposition in the
formation of sedimentary rock layers.
Students can use sedimentation rates to calculate how long it took a sedimentary rock to form.
Students can identify key evolutionary milestones that have been used to delineate divisions of
the geologic time scale.
Students can relate the importance of these key evolutionary milestones to the advancement of
life on Earth.
Students can cite evidence of how evolutionary advantages in life have caused the conditions on
Earth to change.
Students can illustrate the feedback loop between Earth and life forms. For example, as
conditions on Earth have changed life has evolved to adapt to these changes. As life has evolved,
it has caused the conditions on Earth to change to the benefit or detriment of life.
Students can define fossil.
Students can identify the nine categories of fossils.
Students can discuss the conditions under which fossils form.
Students can identify the characteristics of an index fossil.
Students can estimate the age of other fossils in rocks using index fossils.
Students can define geologic column and explain how the geologic column is used to create the
geologic time scale.
Students can identify the divisions of the geologic time scale including eras, periods, and epochs.
Students can discuss the criteria used to define the divisions of the geologic time scale.
Students can relate the relative length of the geologic eras and periods and explain why they are
not the same length.
Students can define evolution and list the four steps in evolution via natural selection.
Students can cite evidence to support the evolution of living organisms.
Students can construct a geologic time scale.
Students can use key evolutionary advances and life forms to differentiate the divisions of the
geologic time scale.
Resource(s)
Textbook and supplemental materials
NASA.gov
University of California Museum of Paleontology
Website –
www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/help/timeform/php
NSTA
USGS.gov
Fossil samples
Life On Earth – The Infinite Variety video
The Real Jurassic Park video
Activity/Assessment(s)
Unit Labs
 Geologic Time Scale construction
 Relative Dating – Who’s On First?
 Pennies and Half-life
 Cross-cutting Relationships
 Sediments Lab
Unit Test
Notes/Other Information
*red – topics not currently covered but related to common core standards
*black – topics currently covered and related to common core standards
*green – topics currently covered but not related to common core standards