Unit 5 Geologic History


Major Topics and Objectives 
5A.  GAIA THEORY

What caused our atmosphere to form?
Video Lesson 5A-1 Outgassing
Video Lesson 5A-2 Earth's Oceans
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

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

Unit 5 Geologic History Links:

Laboratory Investigations
Laboratory 5-1 Gaia Theory

Laboratory 5-2A Sequence of Events Part A

Laboratory 5-2B Sequence of Events Part B

Laboratory 5-3 Matching the Rock Layers
Laboratory 5-4A Geologic Time Part A

Laboratory 5-4B Geologic Time Part B

Laboratory 5-5 Radioactive Decay

Laboratory 5-6A Reconstructing Past Environments Part A
Laboratory 5-6B Reconstructing Past Environments Part B
Laboratory 5-7 Stratigraphy