Curated OER
Geologic Age
Students investigate radioactivity as a tool for measuring geologic time and how geologists use this information to determine the absolute age of rocks or minerals.
Curated OER
Mud Fossils
Young scholars observe real fossils. In this science lesson, students make their own mud fossils by pressing material into the mud and letting it dry in the sun for 3-4 days. Young scholars then get the fossils out displaying their mud...
Curated OER
Archaeology Lesson Plans
Archaeology lesson plans can give students hands on ways to explore the study of ancient cultures.
Curated OER
Social Studies Lesson Plans With Science Connections
There are great social studies lesson plans that can help students make historical connections to science.
Curated OER
Mapping and Excavating a Jello Mold
Fifth graders, in groups, map the three layers of different colored jello layers in molds and note the placement of fruit in them. On the grid paper they draw each grape, raisin, or other object and carefully remove each layer. After...
Curated OER
Car Wash
Learners determine the most appropriate site for a car wash, based on each site's soil characteristics (chemical, physical) and topographic features. They perform an experiment to determine the changes to three different soil types when...
Curated OER
Study techniques
For this study techniques worksheet, students answer multiple choice questions about chronology, osteology, and more. Students complete 4 questions.
Curated OER
Interpreting An Archaelogical Site
Learners study the site of an archaeological dig site in order to begin looking at how they can be interpreted. They look at a soil profile and respond to a research question that simulates a real site. The other questions are used to...
Curated OER
Layers of Time in the Earth
Students are introduced to the concept of stratification as a historical and geological process. Students will read about the Richard Beene archaeological site, which lies near San Antonio, Texas on the Medina River, and watch a short...
Curated OER
Kincaid Creatures
Students brainstorm a list of nocturnal and diurnal wild animals they see in their community and discuss how the animals would be different if they were living during the Ice Age. Using a handout, they discover how archeologists record...
Curated OER
Lava Layering
Students observe the layering process of lava flow with hands-on activities.
Curated OER
Chronology: They Time of My Life
Students demonstrate the importance of intact information to achieve accuracy. They compare and constrast their timelines with the chronological information contained in a stratified archaeological site.
Curated OER
Dig Magazine Archeology Quiz #60
In this Dig Magazine archeology quiz, students answer 4 multiple choice questions covering a variety of topics. Page contains answer and additional resources link.
Curated OER
Photosynthesis and Respiration
Eighth graders differentiate photosynthesis and respiration. In this biology instructional activity, 8th graders draw a diagram explaining these two processes. They answer a quiz after the instructional activity.
Utah Education Network
Uen: Nhmu: Our Ancient Earth the Stratigraphy Cup
Activity provides students an opportunity to make a stratigraphy cup.
National Association of Geoscience Teachers
Nagt: Stratigraphy of Ponca State Park
After a study of the principle of original horizontality and the law of superposition, and how to determine the ages of rock layers and how they are formed, students go on a field study to observe and gather information about rock...
University of California
Ucmp: Web Geological Time Machine
The Museum of Paleontology at Berkeley offers an online geological time machine which allows you to catch a glimpse of ancient eras in earth's history. Click into an "Era" to learn about its stratigraphy, life forms, localities, and...
Indiana University
Indiana University: Generalized Stratigraphic Column of Indiana Bedrock [Pdf]
The discipline of stratigraphy looks at the order and relative position of strata and their relationship to the geological timescale. This chart shows the strata of Indiana from the Pre-Cambrian to the Pennsylvanian Periods.
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of Natural History: Relative Dating in Archaeology [Pdf]
Activities for the classroom that teach about stratigraphy and seriation, two methods used in the relative dating of objects in archaeology.
University of California
Ucmp: The Triassic Period, 245 to 208 Million Years Ago
A brief overview of the Triassic Period, along with links to more detailed information on its subdivisions and life forms. Also includes information about subdivisions of the Period, along with Stratigraphy, Localities, and Tectonics.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Geologic Stories: Retreating Waterfalls and Fossils
A geology field investigation where students investigate fossiliferous limestone, the study local stratigraphy, and understand how glaciers and rivers have shaped the community.
National Association of Geoscience Teachers
Nagt: Geology of Westchester County, Ny
The major goal is to correlate the lithology and geologic setting to unraveling the geologic history. Individual excursions center upon the local stratigraphy, features of glacial origin, evidence of Cameron's line, features of Croton...
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Fourth Grade Science: Earth Science: Relative Ages of Rocks
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Looks at how stratigraphy can be used to determine the relative ages of rocks, how unconformities occur, ways to match rock layers in different areas, and how...
University of California
Ucmp: Paleozoic Era: Stratigraphy
This site contains a chart showing the progression of the Paleozoic Era. Each section of the chart leads to information about the geological, biological, and climatic elements of a specific period of the era.