Lesson Plan Day 6 | Wolfingers Classroom

Day 6
What Does Geologic Time Help Us See?

Learning Target

I can use geologic time to explain change across Earth’s history.

LESSON OVERVIEW

On Day 6, students learn that geologic time helps people organize Earth’s long history. They examine why scientists and historians divide time into eras and periods and how those divisions help us see patterns of change. Students work in a jigsaw to study one geological period and identify major changes, then add their findings to a class geologic timeline. The lesson closes by asking why humans create time periods at all.

AT A GLANCE

In this lesson you will:

Learn what geologic time means.
Explore why Earth history is divided into eras and periods.
Study one geological period in a jigsaw group.
Identify one major change in Earth’s history.
Add findings to a class geologic timeline.
Discuss why humans create time periods.

BELL RINGER

How old is our planet?

OBJECTIVES

Students will be able to:

Define geologic time.
Explain why Earth history is divided into eras and periods.
Identify a key event or change from one geological period.
Add evidence to a shared timeline.
Explain why periodization helps people understand change.

I CAN STATEMENT

I can explain what geologic time is.
I can name one era or period.
I can describe one major change in Earth history.
I can explain why people divide time into periods.

I CAN GUIDE

No understanding: Completely lost. Needs direct help.

Very little understanding. Struggling. Needs major support.

Partial understanding. Knows a little. Needs more practice or guidence.

Good understanding. Mostly gets it. Can worl with minor help.

Full understanding. Completely understands. Can work or explain it by themselves.

Teacher Introduction

Learn what geologic time is and why it is divided into eras and periods.

Document

Jigsaw Investigation

Your group studies one geological period. Identify major changes.

Document

Class Timeline

Add your group’s findings to the class geologic timeline.

Document

Discussion

Why do humans create time periods?

Document

Exit Ticket

Describe one key event that occurred during a geological period.
Sentence Frame:
One key event from the ___ period/era was ________________.
This event matters because ________________.

KEY VOCABULARY

Geologic Time: The long timeline of Earth’s history.
Era: A large division of geologic time.
Period: A smaller division of geologic time.
Timeline: A visual tool that shows events in order.
Periodization: Dividing time into sections to make it easier to study.
Fossil: Preserved evidence of past life.
Earth History: The story of changes on Earth over time.
Scale: The size or level at which we study something.

ESL SUPPORTS

Geologic Time: tiempo geológico
Means: Earth’s long history
Say it: Geologic time is very long. / El tiempo geológico es muy largo.
Era: era
Means: a large part of time
Say it: An era is a section of time. / Una era es una sección del tiempo.
Period: período
Means: a smaller part of geologic time
Say it: A period helps organize time. / Un período ayuda a organizar el tiempo.
Timeline: línea de tiempo
Means: events in order
Say it: The timeline shows change. / La línea de tiempo muestra cambio.
Fossil: fósil
Means: evidence of past life
Say it: A fossil shows past life. / Un fósil muestra vida pasada.
Periodization: periodización / dividir el tiempo
Means: dividing time into parts
Say it: Periodization helps us study history. / La periodización nos ayuda a estudiar la historia.