The Fossil Record

Learning Objective I can apply geologic rules to determine the relative age of fossils and rock layers in a geologic column by correctly answering 4 out of 6 questions.

Standard GLE : Investigate fossils in sedimentary rock layers to gather evidence of changing life forms SPI : Compare fossils found in sedimentary rock to determine their relative age

Agenda PowerPoint Group Activity Individual Activity Exit Ticket

Relative Dating is determining whether an object or event is older or younger than other objects or events

Geologic Rules Law of Superposition The younger rock layer is on top of the older rock layer

Geologic Rules (cont.) Law of Original Horizontality Sedimentary rock layers are deposited in flat horizontal beds

Put it Together

Learning Objective I can apply geologic rules to determine the relative age of fossils and rock layers in a geologic column by correctly answering 4 out of 6 questions.

Fossil Record Fossil any naturally preserved evidence of life Index Fossil fossils of organisms that lived during a relatively short, well- defined time span that allows geologists to determine the age of rock

Evidence of Change over Time Geologic Column an ideal sequence of rock layers that contains all the known fossils and rock formations on Earth arranged from oldest to youngest

Change Over Time

Put it Together A B C D E F

Learning Objective I can apply geologic rules to determine the relative age of fossils and rock layers in a geologic column by correctly answering 4 out of 6 questions.

Group Activity Group Roles: Project Manager (make sure questions are answered); Historian (Records the group information); Time Keeper (Make sure group is on time); Quality Control (Back up the Project Manager) Given a key, make a geologic column in the order in which the rock layers were deposited. Given a key, place the fossils in the correct sedimentary rock layers of the geologic column you created From the completed column, determine which fossil is the index fossil

Group Activity (cont) What was the bottom layer? Why did you put it there? Cite evidence What was the top layer? Why did you put it there? Cite evidence Which fossil is the index fossil? How do you know? Cite evidence Was there evidence of a change in organisms over time? How do you know? Cite evidence

Individual Activity Answer the 6 questions and turn in the sheet.

Exit Ticket Name, date, class period on the index card. Rate the lesson from 1-5 on how well you understand the material. Give me 2 things you learned. Give me something you need help understanding. If you don’t need any help then say none. Tell me what I could do to improve my lesson.

Learning Objective I can apply geologic rules to determine the relative age of fossils and rock layers in a geologic column by correctly answering 4 out of 6 questions.