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Unit 6: Geolocic Time

Chapter 21: Fossils and the Rock Record

Interpret History-Shaping Events

Volcanoes, earthquakes, mountain building, floods, and other geologic events affect the surface of Earth — and the life that inhabits it — in important ways. However, not all events affect Earth equally. Some events in Earth's history have been more critical than others in shaping Earth.

Problem: What have been the most important events in Earth's history?

Materials

list of Earth-shaping events found at glencoe.com or provided by your teacher
colored pencils
poster board
geologic time scale
reference books
internet access

Data Sources

• Earth Changing Events
• View Student Data

Objectives

In this GeoLab, you will:

• Hypothesize about important events in Earth's development.
• Explain why such events had a significant impact on Earth's history.
• Communicate your results and interpretations.

Procedure

Imagine that NASA is planning to send a space probe to a distant galaxy. You are part of a team that has been assigned the task of listing the most important events that have shaped Earth's history. This list will be carried as part of the spaceship's payload. It will be used to help describe Earth to any possible residents of the galaxy.

1. Read and complete the lab safety form.
2. Form into groups. Each group should have three or four team members.
3. Obtain a list of Earth-shaping events from either glencoe.com or your teacher. You may also use the data provided on the following page.
4. Choose two other resources where you can find at least ten more events to add to your list.
5. Brainstorm about the events that you think had the most impact on the direction that Earth's development has taken over time.
6. Discuss the best way to display your list.
7. Make sure your teacher approves your plan.
8. Put your plan into effect.

Data and Observations

Event	Year	Impact	Notes
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

*City
*State	Select Your State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Not Applicable
*School
*Required field

Analyze and Conclude

1. Interpret Data Plot your list on a copy of the geologic time scale. Compare the number of events in each era. Did more Earth-shaping events occur early in Earth's history or later on? Explain.
2. Compare your lists with the lists of others in your class. What events do all lists share? Do these events share common features?
3. Infer Choose one event in the Mesozoic Era, and inter how Earth's history might have progressed had the event not occurred.
4. Evaluate How do extinction events influence the development of life on Earth?