Lesson Plan
University of California

Ucmp: A Relative Dating Activity

For Students 9th - 10th
An learning activity to help learners grasp the concept of relative dating and geologic time.
Website
Curated OER

National Park Service: What Is Geologic Time?

For Students 9th - 10th
A discussion of geologic time, along with a presentation of evidence for the time span involved.
Article
Other

Planetary Society: Relative and Absolute Ages in Histories of Earth and the Moon

For Students 9th - 10th
A lengthy scholarly article that discusses the geologic time scale, its history of development, age-dating events that occurred in different eras, and how absolute and relative dating are used to assess the ages of the Earth and Moon....
Handout
Australian Museum

Australian Museum: Dating the Earth

For Students 9th - 10th
How do scientists know how old the Earth is? What is radioactive dating? Are there other dating methods? Get the answers to these questions and others at this site presented by the Australian Museum Online.
Graphic
University of California

University of California Museum of Paleontology: Distribution in Time and Space

For Students 9th - 10th
The Understanding Evolution site provides evidence for evolution in biogeography utilizing relative dating, geography, and plate tectonics.
Website
US Geological Survey

Relative Time Scale

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a good resource for anyone who wants to understand the historical development that led to our understanding of relative dating. This site also has links to index fossils and a table of geologic time.
Handout
US Geological Survey

U.s. Geological Survey: Geologic Time

For Students 9th - 10th
A discussion of geologic time, how scientists use the concept, and how they have determined its span.
Website
Other

Time and Date: Daylight Saving Time Dst

For Students 9th - 10th
Daylight Saving Time is a way of making better use of the daylight in the evenings by setting the clocks forward one hour during the longer days of summer, and back again in the fall. To remember which way the clock goes, keep in mind...
Article
Other

Utah Geological Survey: How Do Geologists Know How Old a Rock Is?

For Students 9th - 10th
Geologists generally know the age of a rock by determining the age of the group of rocks, or formation, that it is found in. The age of formations is marked on a geologic calendar known as the geologic time scale. Development of the...
Website
US Geological Survey

The Numeric Time Scale

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a good source for getting an in-depth description of using radioactive decay to measure the ages of rocks. In addition to describing the process of radiometric dating, this resource also includes a geologic time scale and four...
Lesson Plan
Illustrative Mathematics

Illustrative Mathematics: F Le Carbon 14 Dating, Variation 2

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
In this task on exponential decay, students calculate what the amount of Carbon 14 left in a preserved plant will be as time passes and when one microgram will be all that is left. Aligns with F-LE.A.1.c.
Activity
New York Times

New York Times: Looking Back at the Crash of '29

For Students 9th - 10th
This site takes a look back at the stock market crash of 1929 and compares it to modern day confidence in the market. Content also includes the full text of the front page articles from the New York Times, dated October 28, 29, and 30,...
Website
New York Times

New York Times: Yemen Protests (2011)

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This site provides a concise current overview of the protests occurring in Yemen as well as a comprehensive timeline of the events leading up to and that occurred during the protests. Links to related...
Website
New York Times

New York Times: Haiti News

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This site provides a comprehensive overview of Haiti's history as well as links to news articles about the country that date back to 1980. Links to interactive media concerning the 2010 earthquake in...
Website
New York Times

New York Times: Raul Castro News

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This site provides a concise overview of Raul Castro's life as well as links to articles about him that date back to 1985. Links to related articles and sites are featured.
Website
Other

Geo Times: The Ice Free Corridor Revisited

For Students 9th - 10th
A very comprehensive article about the ice-free corridor which was possibly the passageway for Paleoindians to enter North America. The discussion includes geology as well as anthropolpgy.
Website
Other

Electronic Intifada: Why They Love Mahmoud Abbas

For Students 9th - 10th
Written as an editorial, the author of this article provides information on the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas. There is also some excellent insight into the feelings of the Palestinians at this date in time....
Handout
Other

Time and Date: Weather: Accuracy of Weather Forecasts in Time

For Students 9th - 10th
An explanation of why forecasts for today's weather are generally more accurate than weather forecasts further ahead in the future. The different types of forecast ranges are also briefly explained.
Graphic
Other

Mt. Vernon Ladies' Association: Washington's "First 100 Days"

For Students 9th - 10th
A "President's First 100 Days" has become a barometer by which to measure the success of the rest of his term. George Washington had the added weight of launching our new nation in his first 100 days. Use this interactive timeline to see...
Article
Curated OER

Cbc.ca: A Timeline of Residential Schools

For Students 9th - 10th
Need more facts about residential schools? This informative article is arranged in descending date order from the current government apology back in time to the inception of these controversial schools.
Lesson Plan
Common Sense Media

Common Sense Media: My Social Media Life

For Teachers 6th - 8th
For most middle schoolers, being on social media can mean connecting with friends, sharing pictures, and keeping up-to-date. But it can also mean big-time distractions, social pressures, and more. This lesson helps students navigate the...
Article
A&E Television

History.com: How 25 Christmas Traditions Got Their Start

For Students 9th - 10th
Christmas in America has been filled with traditions, old and new. Some date back to 16th-century Germany or even ancient Greek times, while others have caught on in modern times. Here's a look at 25 ways Americans have celebrated the...
Article
A&E Television

History.com: How the Design of the World Trade Center Claimed Lives on 9/11

For Students 9th - 10th
After the jets hit, stairwells became the sole means of escape for thousands of WTC occupants. But design choices hampered full evacuation -- and made the descent even more harrowing. The stairs in the twin towers were a product of their...
Website
University of California

University of California Museum of Paleontology: Fossil Evidence

For Students 9th - 10th
Understanding Evolution provides evidence for evolution using fossils. There are also links to lesson plans.

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