Curated OER
Half Life Analogy
Eighth graders explain half life. In this hands on activity, 8th graders use licorice to explain radioactive decay and graph their results.
Curated OER
Half-Life Lab
Students participate in a lab in which they are introduced to carbon-dating. In groups, they use the holes of paper from a hole puncher and determine the rate of retention after shaking coins onto the same area. They record their...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: The Dating Game: Radioactive Carbon
In this media-rich essay from the NOVA: "Mystery of the First Americans" Web site, learn about the atomic structure of radioactive carbon and how it can be used to determine the age of organic remains, such as bones and teeth.
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Coming Into America: Dating Artifacts 9 12 [Pdf]
Investigate new discussions on the presence of humans in North America, and emulate the work of archeologists in dating artifacts at a dig site. Use clay to model how the radioactive isotope of carbon (C14) is used in dating organic...