Week Long Project Outline: Day 1: Introduce the project and explain its purpose - Establishing the geologic time scale and how it is used to organize Earth’s 4.6-billion-year-old history. Explain the criteria for the project, including: the definition of relative ages, major events in Earth’s history, and the processes that shape local geographic features.

Day 2: Have students begin to research and analyze the evidence surrounding rock strata and fossils - What have we learned from analyzing these resources and what do they tell us about relative ages of major events in Earth’s history.

Day 3: Have students assess the data surrounding the distribution of rocks, fossils, continental shapes, and seafloor structures - Use the data to engage in group discussions and debates to draw conclusions regarding past plate motions.

Day 4: Have students analyze the evidence supporting the geoscience processes that shape local geographic features - Learn about weathering, deposition, erosion, and other activities related to the formation of Earth’s surface

Day 5: Wrap up the project - Students will use their research to construct a scientific explanation for how the geologic time scale is used to organize Earth’s 4.6-billion-year-old history.

Day 6: Student presentations - Allow time for each group to present their findings and conclusions.

Day 7: Assessments - Assess student understanding of the project criteria with a written test and/or brief oral interviews.