Curated OER
How Do We Measure Absolute Time?-Geologic Clocks
In this absolute time activity, students define radiometric dating, tree rings and varves as means to measure absolute time. They are given information about each of these methods of dating.
Curated OER
Geologic Time: Relative and Absolute Dating
High schoolers investigate relative and absolute dating; determine the difference between the two dating systems; and apply this knowledge by creating a geologic timetable of their own.
Curated OER
Assessment & Evaluation
Seventh graders study elapsed time, radioactive decay and half-life. In this time machine instructional activity students complete several activities and view a presentation.
Curated OER
Lizard Lab
In this detailed and comprehensive multi-day activity, budding evolutionary biologists use real data from lizard populations in the Canary Islands to examine evolution and natural selection.
Curated OER
Energy from Atoms
In this energy from atoms learning exercise, students match 10 sentences to given terms related to nuclear energy, electricity, fission, and nuclear reactions. They also answer 3 questions about nuclear waste and atomic reactions.
![Milton J. Rubenstein Museum: Determining the Age of Rocks and Fossils [Pdf] Lesson Plan](https://static.lp.lexp.cloud/images/attachment_defaults/resource/large/FPO-knovation.png "Milton J. Rubenstein Museum: Determining the Age of Rocks and Fossils [Pdf] Lesson Plan")
Other
Milton J. Rubenstein Museum: Determining the Age of Rocks and Fossils [Pdf]
This set of activities from the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology has students investigating how relative dating and absolute dating methods are used to determine the age of rocks and fossils.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Radioactive Dating: Looking at Half Lives Using M&ms
In this activity, students gain a better understanding of radioactive dating and half-lives by using M&Ms to demonstrate the idea of radioactive decay. They will be able to see how scientists can determine the age of rocks by looking...
California State University
California State University Virtual Courseware Project: Radiocarbon Dating
Use interactive graphs and other diagrams to answer questions about carbon dating.
American Geosciences Institute
American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Dating Popcorn
In this activity, students use popcorn to simulate the process scientists use to date layers in an ice core.
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Berkeley Lab: Radioactive Dating
This site provides an overview of radioactive dating, a process used to determine the age of rocks and other materials.
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of Natural History: Paleobiology: Absolute Dating
An explanation of radiometric or absolute dating of geological formations based on using the half-life of radioactive elements to figure out how old given rock layers are. A link on the left provides information about relative dating as...
Other
University of Waikato: Science Learning Hub: Absolute Dating
Explains what absolute dating is as compared to relative dating and how they can work together. The characteristics of several different radiometric methods are compared. Includes three short videos and an interactive where students...
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: Age of Earth
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] How scientists have been able to determine the age of Earth.
Other
How to Date a Fossil
Radiometric dating, fission-track dating, and amino-acid dating are explained in this succinct site.
US Geological Survey
The Numeric Time Scale
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...
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: Historical Geology
In this interactive tutorial you will explore how geologists use clues in rocks to determine the order in which rocks formed. Learn how principles of radioactivity are used to assign actual ages to rocks. Students will explore fossils...
Curated OER
Smithsonian Institution Archives: Edith Kroupa
Austrian research chemist Edith Kroupa, 1934. The original caption dated September 18, 1934, reads: "While revolution upset Vienna, Miss Edith Kroupa, research chemist working with a new method of microchemical analysis in the laboratory...