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Josh Pidkowa

Lesson Radiometric Dating, Stratigraphy, Fossil

Course Grade 7 Science
Title/Focus Fuels (April 4th)

OUTCOMES
● Describe and demonstrate methods used in the scientific study of Earth and in observing and interpreting its
component materials
o identify and explain the purpose of different tools and techniques used in the study of Earth (e.g.,
describe and explain the use of seismographs and coring drills, as well as tools and techniques for
the close examination of rocks; describe methods used in oil and gas exploration)
● Investigate and interpret evidence of major changes in landforms and the rock layers that underlie them
o describe evidence for crustal movement, and identify and interpret patterns in these movements
(e.g., identify evidence of earthquakes and volcanic action along the Pacific Rim; identify evidence
of the movement of the Pacific plate relative to the North American plate)
o identify and interpret examples of gradual/incremental change, and predict the results of those
changes over extended periods of time (e.g., identify evidence of erosion, and predict the effect of
erosional change over a year, century and millennium; project the effect of a given rate of
continental drift over a period of one million years)

Background Information​:

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of the lesson students will be able to:

1. Use stratigraphic principles to determine the relative ages of rocks and geologic events
2. Use information from radiometric dating along with stratigraphic principles to predict the absolute
ages of rocks and geologic events
3. Describe the basic principles by which fossil fuels are formed & why they are important

MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT

● Radiometric Dating, stratigraphy and geologic time powerpoint
● Relative/Absolute ages questions
● Radioactive decay activity

PREPARATION AND LOGISTICAL CONSIDERATIONS

● Make sure you have the Relative/Absolute age questions prepared ahead of time!
● Make sure you have the radioactive decay activity prepared ahead of time!

PROCEDURE
Introduction Time

● Introduce the lesson by reminding students that we covered this topic before
spring break (briefly) and quickly go over the main tenets of stratigraphy
10 min
○ Be sure to ask pointed questions but be generous (you only covered this
briefly before spring break
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Body Time
Radiometric ● Briefly describe how radioactive decay works using the
dating particle model (don’t forget to keep your terminology
simple! you don’t want to confuse them!)
○ Move onto the ‘Radioactive decay activity’
■ Pass the sheets out to the FIRST person in
each row
■ Have the students color in HALF of the
10 min
squares every 20 seconds (passing the
paper behind them each time)
■ Keep track of how many squares each
students colors in and put this on a graph
on the board
● Use this as an explanation of
radioactive decay
Relative and ● Relative and absolute aging questions on the board! Have
absolute the students record their answers on a piece of looseleaf 15 min
dating paper
Fossil Fuels ● Ask the class the question “Where does the gas that you
pump into your car come from?”
○ Discuss the origin of fossil fuels, and what the
theories are behind how they form
15 min
○ Why are fossil fuels important?
○ What impacts do fossil fuels have?
○ What are some benefits and consequences of fossil
fuels
Conclusions Time
● What did we do today?
○ Cover main points and review what we did
5 mins
● How have I been in control of my learning? What works and doesn’t work?
● What do I still want to know in this unit?
Assessment
● Assessment FOR learning: Relative and absolute dating questions
● Assessment FOR learning: Class discussions
● Assessment AS learning: ‘Control of learning’
Radioactive Decay Activity

In the next 20 seconds color in HALF of the remaining squares. Once you are done, pass the
paper to the person behind you when instructed.