2012 Learning on Location
St. Louis Science Center Symposium
Title of Activity/Lesson
Rocks, Minerals and Stratigraphy: Relative Age Dating
Michelle Hrastich, Windsor School District
Grade Level(s) this
activity/lesson is designed for
9th -12th (7-8th with modifications)
Objective(s)
Students will be able to sequence layers of rock based on the fossils that occupy each layer, use relative
age dating techniques to give relative ages of the fossils in each rock layer, relate the activity to the Law
of Superposition, and use critical thinking techniques to propose explanations for the lack or abundance
of various species of organisms.
Materials Used
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Description of Activity/Lesson
Colored Pencils
Scissors
Two sets of Cards (A and B)
Dinosaur Fact Sheet
I.
Focus phase:
•Show class various fossils found in the Hell Creek
Formation of Montana.
•Discussion questions (to be used as individual and/or
group brainstorming activity):
1. How do scientists know the ages of fossils?
2. How can scientists tell if one fossil is older than another
fossil?
3. How do we determine how old the Earth is?
•Notes: Powerpoint notes over Relative Age Dating.
II.
Challenge phase: Lab Activity (Card Set B will
spell out PALEOTREK when finished)
III.
Application phase: Lab analysis questions and
class discussion (covering the opening focus
Possible performance-driven or grade level modifications that can be made for this activity/lesson
Use Modified Lab Activity and Modified Dinosaur Can
Fact Sheet for lower grade levels or lower functioning
students.
Missouri Standards/GLE’s met by this activity/lesson:
Strand 5: Processes and Interactions of Earth’s Systems - 2.D
Strand 7: Scientific Inquiry - 1.A, B, C, D
Strand 8: Impact of Science, Technology and Human Activity - 2.B
Relative Age Dating Activity Montana, USA Objectives: When you complete this activity, you will be able to: 1. Sequence layers of rock based on the fossils that occupy each layer. 2. Use relative age dating techniques to give relative ages to the fossils in each rock layer. 3. Relate activity to the Law of Superposition. 4. Use critical thinking techniques to propose explanations for the lack or abundance of various species of organisms. Materials: 1. Colored Pencils 2. Scissors 3. Two sets of Cards (A and B) 4. Dinosaur Fact Sheet Procedure Set A: 1.
Cut out Set A cards and spread them out on the table. Each of these cards represents a rock layer. The letters in each card represent a fossil type. The card “TMP” represents the oldest rock layer; therefore, fossils labeled “T”, “M”, and “P” are the oldest fossils in the rock sequence. 2.
Find a card that has one or more of these three letters (“T”,”M”, or “P”). Since this new card has a common letter(s) to the first card, it should be placed above the “TMP” card. Sequence the rest of your cards by using this same process. When you have sequenced all of your cards, you will have the “youngest” card, or rock layer, near the top of your desk and the oldest card (“TMP”) at the bottom edge of your desk. Analysis: 1. Fill in the blanks below with the letters in each card. 2.
3.
Which is older: fossil “A” or fossil “G”? 4.
How do you know that fossil “H” in rock layer “NHA” is younger than fossil “H” in rock layer “MH”? 5.
Explain why fossil “M” in rock layer “MH” is the same age as “H”. Youngest _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ Oldest _______________ Which is older: rock layer “DR” or rock layer “NHA”? Explain your answer. Procedure Set B: 1. Cut out Set B cards. Again, each card represents a rock layer and contains various fossils that have been found in that rock layer. Optional: Color code your Dinosaur Facts Sheet and color each of the fossils the corresponding color. 2. Find card “K” and place it at the bottom edge of your desk. This card represents the oldest rock layer; therefore, these fossils are the oldest fossils in this rock sequence. Find a rock layer that has at least one or more of the same fossils and place it above card “K”. Pay close attention to how many fossils have been found in each rock layer. Complete the rock sequence by using this same technique. When you have sequenced all of the rock layers, you will have the youngest rock layer near the top of your desk and the oldest rock layer, “K”, at the bottom edge of your desk. Analysis: You will need the Dinosaur Fact Sheet to answer the following questions: 1. Fill in the blanks below with the letters in the upper right hand side of each card. Youngest _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ Oldest _______________ 2. Which is older: the Anklysaurus or the turtle? Explain your answer. 3. Which lived longer: the Thescelosaurus or the Tyrannosaurus? Explain your answer. 4. How do you know that the ancient mammal is younger than the Thescelosaurus? 5. How are layers “A” and “P” different? Conclusion: 1. What do you think occurred between layers “A” and “P”? 2. What type of organisms went extinct between layers “A” and “P”? 3. What type of organism survived into rock layer “P”? 4. Why do you think these organisms were able to survive while other organisms were forced into extinction? 5. Think about the environment during each layer. How did the environment begin to change between layers “E” and “R”? 6. Explain how scientists determine the relative ages of fossils. 7. How can scientists tell if one fossil is older than another fossil? 8. How did this lab demonstrate the Law of Superposition? 9. How do scientists determine the age of the Earth? CARD SET A DR
MH
TMP
OGX
ANR
NHA
JX
RTG
CARD SET B CARD SET B Dinosaur Fact Sheet: Fossils found in the Hell Creek Formation of Montana Triceratops Herbivore 10 feet tall at hips 30 feet long Full skeleton found Ancient garfish Carnivore 2 feet long Scales and teeth found
Ornithomimus Herbivore 7 feet tall at hips 12 feet long Full skeleton found Hadrosaur (various varieties) Herbivore 12 feet tall at hips 33 feet long Duck­billed dinosaurs Various bones and mineralized skin found Tyrannosaurus rex Turtle Carnivore 2 feet long 13 feet tall at hips Shell fragments, claws, bones 42 feet long and skull found Full skeleton found Ancient Mammal Carnivore Lived underground Size of badger Teeth and jaw found Ankylosaurus Herbivore 6 feet tall at hips 20 feet long Various bones found Thescelosaurus Metasequoia cone Herbivore Redwood tree 4.5 feet tall at hips 125­250 feet tall 13 feet long Fossilized cones, leaves and branches found Full skeleton found including possible fossilized heart *Numerous other species of dinosaur and marine and plant life have been found in the Hell Creek Formation. Modified Lab Activity (7­8 Grade) Procedure Set A: 1.
Cut out Set A cards and spread them out on the table. Each of these cards represents a rock layer. The letters in each card represent a fossil type. The card “TMP” represents the oldest rock layer; therefore, fossils labeled “T”, “M”, and “P” are the oldest fossils in the rock sequence. Find a card that has one or more of these three letters (“T”,”M”, or “P”). Since this new card has a common letter(s) to the first card, it should be placed above the “TMP” card. Sequence the rest of your cards by using this same process. When you have sequenced all of your cards, you will have the “youngest” card, or rock layer, near the top of your desk and the oldest card (“TMP”) at the bottom edge of your desk. 2.
Analysis: 1. Fill in the blanks below with the letters in each card. Youngest _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ Oldest _______________ 2.
Which is older: rock layer “DR” or rock layer “NHA”? Explain your answer. 3.
Which is older: fossil “A” or fossil “G”? 4.
How do you know that fossil “H” in rock layer “NHA” is younger than fossil “H” in rock layer “MH”? 5.
Explain why fossil “M” in rock layer “MH” is the same age as “H”. Procedure Set B: 1. Cut out Set B cards. Again, each card represents a rock layer and contains various fossils that have been found in that rock layer. Optional: Color code your Dinosaur Facts Sheet and color each of the fossils the corresponding color. 2. Find card “K” and place it at the bottom edge of your desk. This card represents the oldest rock layer; therefore, these fossils are the oldest fossils in this rock sequence. Find a rock layer that has at least one or more of the same fossils and place it above card “K”. Pay close attention to how many fossils have been found in each rock layer. Complete the rock sequence by using this same technique. When you have sequenced all of the rock layers, you will have the youngest rock layer near the top of your desk and the oldest rock layer, “K”, at the bottom edge of your desk. Analysis: You will need the Dinosaur Fact Sheet to answer the following questions: 1. Fill in the blanks below with the letters in the upper right hand side of each card. Youngest _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ Oldest _______________ 2. Which is older: the Anklysaurus or the turtle? Explain your answer. 3. Which lived longer: the Thescelosaurus or the Tyrannosaurus? Explain your answer. 4. How do you know that the ancient mammal is younger than the Thescelosaurus? 5. How are layers “A” and “P” different? Conclusion: 6. What do you think occurred between layers “A” and “P”? 7. What type of organisms went extinct between layers “A” and “P”? 8. What type of organism survived into rock layer “P”? 9. Why do you think these organisms were able to survive while other organisms were forced into extinction? 10. Think about the environment during each layer. How did the environment begin to change between layers “E” and “R”? 11. Explain how scientists determine the relative ages of fossils. 12. How can scientists tell if one fossil is older than another fossil? 13. How did this lab demonstrate the Law of Superposition? 14. How do scientists determine the age of the Earth? MODIFIED CARD SET A DR
MH
TMP
OGX
ANR
NHA
JX
RTG
MODIFIED CARD SET B MODIFIED CARD SET B Dinosaur Fact Sheet: Fossils found in the Hell Creek Formation of Montana Triceratops Herbivore 10 feet tall at hips 30 feet long Full skeleton found Ancient garfish Carnivore 2 feet long Scales and teeth found
Ornithomimus Herbivore 7 feet tall at hips 12 feet long Full skeleton found Hadrosaur (various varieties) Herbivore 12 feet tall at hips 33 feet long Duck­billed dinosaurs Various bones and mineralized skin found Tyrannosaurus rex Turtle Carnivore 2 feet long 13 feet tall at hips Shell fragments, claws, bones 42 feet long and skull found Full skeleton found Ancient Mammal Carnivore Lived underground Size of badger Teeth and jaw found *Numerous other species of dinosaur and marine and plant life have been found in the Hell Creek Formation.