The Earth is 4.6 Billion years old This has been broken down into 4 major time periods (Eras). This has been broken down into 4 major time periods (Eras). The 4 Time Eras are not equal in length. The 4 Time Eras are not equal in length. The last one hasn’t ended yet The last one hasn’t ended yet The first one is extremely long The first one is extremely long

The Pre-Cambrian Era is the Longest. Life forms were limited to Oceans.

Since the PreCambrian, 3 time Eras have seen different forms of life dominate the fossil record.

Era Time Period Geology Events LIFE Nick-name Pre-Cambrian From 4.6 Billon Years ago until 570 Million Years ago "Shield" Regions form from Magma Bacteria Algae and “SIMPLE" Life forms Age of Simple LIFE

Canada in early Pre-Cambrian Era

Canada near end of Pre-Cambrian Era

Era Time Period Geology Events LIFE Nick-name Paleozoic From 570 Million YBP until 245 Million YBP OLDEST Mountains Form on edge of shields. Appalachians (Appalachians in North America) Pangaea forms near end of Paleozoic Trilobites early fish, Am- phibians. Fern forests on land Age of Fish, Trilobites, and Amphibians

Skeletons of creatures that have gills and lungs existed in this Era. Many of these creatures also had fins for swimming with small legs for land movement.

Paleozoic Era. North America moved East to meet Europe to form PANGEA Appalachian (eastern Mountains) build up

Paleozoic Era. North America moved East to meet Europe Appalachian (eastern Mountains) build up

Era Time Period Geology Events LIFE Nick-name Age of Reptiles Mesozoic From 245 Million YBP until 65 million YBP Pangaea beaks apart at start. Asteroid Impact Ends Era Reptiles, birds and dinosaurs newly appear. (Most lifeforms become more diverse … Trilobites extinct)

Mesozoic Era. North America moves West Rocky (western Mountains) build

Era Time Period Geology Events LIFE Nick-name Cenozoic From 65 Million YBP until Today Plates move to present places. Rockies build. Numerous Ice-ages occur. Mammals expand humans appear. Dinosaurs are extinct Age of Mammals

We currently live in a time of ICE Ages in the Cenozoic ERA 10,000 years ago ice covered this area

We are in a time of high temperature and low ice volume…. that has happened before.

When will the ice come back? Lets hope that it won’t be as fast as …… The day after tomorrow

Canada (Present Time). North America moves West Rocky (western Mountains) build