How Can Rocks be used to Estimate the Age
of the Earth?
Grade Level: 9 &
10
Learning Standard: S3c, S5e, S14, and S15
Time Requirements: 1hour
preparation time and 55 minutes class time
Topics covered by
this lesson:
What kinds of rocks are
found in our area?
How can rocks tell the
age of the earth?
How old is the oldest
rock ever found?
What are the main kinds
of rocks?
Previsit: Students are asked to bring in rocks from their
neighborhood. We will discuss the
three main kinds of rocks: Igneous, Metamorphic, and Sedimentary. Students will identify their rocks and
estimate their ages.
Purpose: To determine the ages of rocks in our
neighborhood and compare how the age of the oldest rock was determined.
Objective: To observe the use of the scientific method in
determining the age of the scientific rock.
Materials Required: rocks, textbook, encyclopedia, paper, pens,
Internet
Student Learning
Prerequisites:
Vocabulary: geologists,
igneous rock, metamorphic rock, sedimentary rock, core, mantle, basalt
Visit: students will be divided in to groups of 4. They will have paper and pencil and
take notes from the teacher and at the exhibits. They will observe the oldest rock and other exhibits.
Post Visit: Each group will report their findings. They will compare their method used to
determine the ages of their tocks to the method used by the museum. They will estimate their rocks ages
again. They will write an essay
about their trip to the museum and their findings.