Geologic Time: When Was Coal Formed?
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Objective
The student shall construct a time line of geologic periods and label the major happenings in each. The student should pay attention to the climate and conditions during the coal forming periods.
Concept
Coal began as trees, ferns and other plants that existed in tropical-like forests between 400 million and one million years ago.
Skill Reinforcement
- Critical thinking
- Math-number manipulation
- Cooperative learning
Grade Level
8 and above
Time Needed
Two class periods
Materials
- adding machine tape (five meters long)
- metric ruler
- tape
Note to Teacher
Students should have a general knowledge of epochs, periods and eras. They should make a chart similar to the one provided. Research can be done ahead of time by dividing the class into groups and giving each group a period to research. This information can be added to the chart. Students should work in groups of two to construct the time lines. Be sure to have a large area in which to work (a long hallway is good).
Procedure
- Measure and cut a strip of adding tape that is five meters long. One meter equals one billion, once centimeter equals ten million, and one millimeter equals one million.
- Attach adding machine tape to a flat surface where you can work easily.
- Draw a line near the end of the tape. This will be the beginning of the Earth. Measure four meters from this mark and draw a line. Label it "End of Precambrian Time." Starting at this line, mark the distance that will represent the end of the Paleozoic Era. Label it "End of the Paleozoic Era." Go back and divide the part of the tape representing the Paleozoic Era into correct lengths representing each time period of this era. Label each with the correct name. Do the same with each era and period. Go back and label the main events in each era.
Activity developed by Beverly Bowers, Mannington Middle School, Fairmont, West Virgina and the American Coal Foundation.
