Unit 5 Geologic History

NYSSLS Performance Expectations (Objectives)

• HS-ESS1-6: Apply scientific reasoning and evidence from ancient Earth materials, meteorites, and other planetary surfaces to construct an account of Earth's formation and early history.
• HS-ESS2-7: Construct an argument based on evidence about the simultaneous coevolution of Earth's systems and life on Earth.
• HS-ESS1-5: Evaluate evidence of the past and current movements of continental and oceanic crust and the theory of plate tectonics to explain the ages of crustal rocks.

Extraneous Content (No Longer Required)

• Memorization of all index fossils and their time ranges
• Detailed half-life calculations for multiple isotopes
• Specific dates for all geologic periods (focus shifts to relative timing and major events)
   

Major Topics and Objectives 
5A.  GAIA THEORY
What caused our atmosphere to form?
Video Lesson 5A-1 Outgassing
Video Lesson 5A-2a Earth's Oceans Formation Theories (PBS)
Video Lesson 5A-2b Earth's Water/Oceans Theories (Tedx)
Video Lesson 5A-3  Dr. James Lovelock (5 minutes)

5B.  GEOLOGIC EVENTS
How can the order in which geologic events occur be determined?
Video Lesson 5B-1  Relative Dating of Rock Layers
Video Lesson 5B-2  NYS Core Samples Virtual Field Trip
Video Lesson 5B-3  Geologic History of the Champlain Valley
Video Lesson 5B-4  The Day the Mesozoic Died Video
Video Lesson 5B-5  The Chixulub Crater Evidence
Video Lesson 5B-6 Asteroid Comparisons

5C.  CORRELATION TECHNIQUES
How can rocks and geologic events in one place be matched with other locations?
Video Lesson 5C-1  Correlation Techniques
Video Lesson 5C-2  Index Fossil Correlation

5D.  DETERMINING GEOLOGIC AGES
How can Earth’s geologic history be sequenced from the fossil and rock record?
Video Lesson 5D-1  Geologic History in 5 1/2 minutes
Video Lesson 5D-2  A Brief History of Geologic Time
Video Lesson 5D-2  Geologic Time Video

5E.  RADIOACTIVE DECAY
How can the absolute age of a rock be determined?
Video Lesson 5E-1  Radioactive Decay and Half-life Video Lesson Notes
Video Lesson 5E-2  Pre-Lab 5-5 Half-life Video Worksheet
Video Lesson 5E-3  Review of Radioactive Decay and Half-life

5F.  THE FOSSIL RECORD
How can the rock record and fossil evidence reveal changes in past life and ancient environments?
Video Lesson 5F-1  Glaciation in North America
Video Lesson 5F-2  Gray Site Fossils, Tenessee
Video Lesson 5F-3  History of Earth Plate Tectonics Animation
Video Lesson 5F-4  North America's Past Environments
Video Lesson 5F-5 How were the Rocky Mountains Formed (same as Video Lesson 3A-1b)