Read the prompt below. Click on the document link if you’d like to see the prompt in a Word document with alternative text, opens in a new window. GeologicTimeScaleADA
Concept
To better understand the concept of geologic time, your assignment is to produce a time-scale illustration that is true to scale and reflects some of the important events in the history of the earth (see list below, you only have to put the events in boldface on your illustration). The exercise requires that you produce an illustration to share with the class on our discussion board and that you write a short essay that: (1) discusses why you chose the metaphor you used; (2) shows an example of one of your math calculations; and (3) discusses what you learned from this exercise including your perspective of where humans fit in the grand scheme of things. Have fun! Be creative! No Illustration is too silly, as long as your math is correct, and your choice has meaning to you. Your instructor appreciates unusual and distinctive efforts. However, if you’re not feeling very creative on this one, just pick a simple approach and do a neat, accurate job. Don’t get hung up obsessing over your approach, pick something that works for you and do it. Remember that you are trying to convey a sense of Earth’s entire history with an illustration so neatness counts, color coding is helpful, pictures are also useful. Email me with any questions that you have.
Posting your Work
You can produce your illustration in any way that you choose. It can be a Word document, scan of a hand drawn picture, graphic design, video, photograph…. Whatever best shows your work. It does need to be easily visible and clear so that your fellow students and your instructor can clearly see your work. You can attach it to your thread or embed it in your essay.
How To
The method used to determine a true-to-scale illustration will be similar for all choices. Units in the illustration can be in time, distance, volume, mass, etc. depending upon what type of illustration you choose to work with. The general equation used to generate numbers in your illustration which will be true to scale is:
For example, suppose your illustration uses distance as its “guiding light.” Remember, the use of time, volume, or mass in an illustration would be just dandy. Since we are using a distance illustration as an example here, a football field with a length of 100 yds will do just fine. To find where on the football field, let’s say, the “first oxygen” yard mark would be, you would set up the ratio shown below and solve for X:
HINT: Divide 2,700,000,000 by 4,600,000,000 then multiply by 100 to solve for X.
The “build-up of oxygen” location on the football field would be (X) yards away from the goal line of your choice! (The example above assumes that the zero-yard line is the present day and the 100 yd line is the beginning of earth history.)
Example
Here is a great example of this concept from the University of Saskatchewan. Your illustration will have more dates than this simplified one.
Citation: University of Saskatchewan (citationforillustration)
Resources
I don’t usually cite Wikipedia, but I found their article on the geologic timescale to be very good. They also have some illustration examples that might help you get started. Here is the citation: GeologicTimescale
Below is a very condensed table of events in our long Earth history. There is a lot more to our history that is covered in your textbook. You only have to use the events in bold on your illustration!
| Event | Years before present |
| Present | 0 |
| Modern man | 10,000 |
| Neanderthal man | 100,000 |
| First use of fire | 500,000 |
| Homo erectus | 1,300,000 |
| Linking of North and South America | 1,500,000 |
| Oldest stone tools | 1,600,000 |
| Beginning of Quaternary period (end Tertiary/Neogene) | 1,800,000 |
| Australopithecus (early hominids) | 3,000,000 |
| Beginning of Antarctic ice caps | 10,000,000 |
| First evidence of ice at the poles | 25,000,000 |
| Collision of India with Asia | 40,000,000 |
| Start of global cooling (to present day) | 40,000,000 |
| Early horses | 50,000,000 |
| Separation of Australia and Antarctica | 50,000,000 |
| Early primates | 57,000,000 |
| Alps form | 60,000,000 |
| Beginning of Tertiary/Paleogene period (recent life) | 65,000,000 |
| Dinosaurs became extinct | 65,000,000 |
| Rocky Mountains form | 80,000,000 |
| Cretaceous Period begins (Jurassic ends) | 140,000,000 |
| Early flowering plants | 150,000,000 |
| Early birds and mammals | 180,000,000 |
| Opening of Atlantic Ocean | 200,000,000 |
| Jurassic Period begins (end Triassic) | 208,000,000 |
| First dinosaurs | 215,000,000 |
| Triassic Period begins | 245,000,000 |
| Final assembly of Pangaea | 280,000,000 |
| Early trees, formation of coal deposits | 318,000,000 |
| First reptiles | 340,000,000 |
| Beginning of Carboniferous/Mississippian period (end Devonian) | 360,000,000 |
| First insects | 400,000,000 |
| Early land plants | 450,000,000 |
| Early fish | 490,000,000 |
| Beginning of Ordovician period (end Cambrian) | 510,000,000 |
| Early shelled organisms | 544,000,000 |
| Beginning of Cambrian period (end of Precambrian time) – rise of multicellular organisms | 544,000,000 |
| Beginning of Paleozoic (ancient life) Era | 544,000,000 |
| Early multi-celled organisms | 700,000,000 |
| Breakup of early supercontinent | 800,000,000 |
| First known animals | 1,200,000,000 |
| Formation of early supercontinent (Rodinia) | 1,400,000,000 |
| Buildup of free oxygen in atmosphere | 2,700,000,000 |
| Early bacteria & algae | 3,400,000,000 |
| Oldest known Earth rocks | 3,960,000,000 |
| Formation of Earth’s atmosphere | 4,200,000,000 |
| Formation of the Moon | 4,500,000,000 |
| Precambrian time begins | 4,600,000,000 |
| Origin of earth | 4,600,000,000 |
Grading
30% Essay: Well written, correct grammar and punctuation. Covers all three of the prompt questions in interesting, accurate detail. Shows time spent reflecting on Earth’s history, an understanding of geologic time, and thoughtful response to this lab as a personal experience. Is not overly brief.
70% Geologic Time Illustration: Illustration is clear, dates are readable, math is correct. Appropriate use of color, pictures, symbols etc… to enhance understanding of presentation. Illustration shows creativity in approach and neatness in execution.
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