Subject: Earth and Life Sciences

Grade Level: Grade 11

Objective: explain how relative and absolute dating are used in determining
the age of stratified rock, describe the general rules, or laws, that are used to
determine how rocks were created and how they changed through time, value
the importance of scientific developments in dating rock materials and
discoveries of events both in the past and at present.

Learning within and across curriculum:

- Within:

1) Chemistry: Understanding radioactive decay and isotopes can be related to the

dating of rocks and fossils, connecting to the concept of half-life.

2) History: Studying the timeline of geological events can be tied to historical events,
showcasing how Earth's history is intertwined with human history.

3) Mathematics: Using mathematical calculations to determine the age of rocks

through dating methods, linking scientific principles with mathematical applications.

ELICIT:

[Teaching Strategy: Brainstorming]

[Instructional Materials: None]

Anecdote 1 - Sharing folk stories about how ancient Filipinos interpreted geological
formations.

Anecdote 2 - Relating the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo to the layers of rock it created and
how these layers can be dated.

ENGAGE:

[Teaching Strategy: Role-Playing]

[Instructional Materials: Rock samples, markers]

1) Idea - Students role-play as geologists analyzing rock layers and dating them
using relative and absolute dating methods.

2) Idea - Students create a timeline mural on the classroom wall depicting the
geological history of a specific area.

EXPLORE:

Activity 1: Rock Layer Dating Challenge

[Teaching Strategy: Problem-Based Learning]

Materials - Rock samples, markers, dating tools

Significance - Practice using relative and absolute dating methods on rock layers.

Instructions -

1) Examine the rock samples and determine the relative ages of each layer.

2) Use radiometric dating to calculate the absolute age of a specific rock layer.

3) Present findings and interpretations to the class.

Rubric

- Accuracy of relative dating - 20 pts.

- Accuracy of absolute dating calculation - 20 pts.

- Presentation clarity - 10 pts.

Assessment Questions:

1) Explain the difference between relative and absolute dating methods.

2) How does the concept of half-life relate to radiometric dating?

3) Why is it important to use multiple dating methods when determining the age of
rocks?

Activity 2: Fossil Analysis and Dating

[Teaching Strategy: Inquiry-Based Learning]

Materials - Fossil samples, magnifying glasses, dating charts

Significance - Understanding the correlation between fossil age and rock layers.

Instructions -

1) Examine the fossil samples and identify the organisms.

2) Determine the age of each fossil by matching them with the appropriate rock layer
ages.

3) Discuss the implications of fossil dating in understanding Earth's history.

Rubric

- Correct identification of fossils - 15 pts.

- Accurate dating of fossils - 20 pts.

- Depth of discussion - 15 pts.

Assessment Questions:

1) How can fossils help in dating rocks?

2) Explain the principle of fossil succession.

3) What information can be obtained from studying index fossils?

Inclusive Activity 3: Rock Layers Memory Game

[Teaching Strategy: Games and Gamification]

Materials - None

Significance - Enhancing memory retention and understanding of rock layers.

Instructions -

1) Assign students rock layer cards with corresponding ages.

2) Students take turns flipping two cards to match rock layers with their respective
ages.

3) Repeat until all matches are made.

Rubric

- Number of correct matches - 15 pts.

- Time taken to complete the game - 10 pts.

- Participation and engagement - 10 pts.

Assessment Questions:

1) How can the sequence of rock layers provide information about Earth's history?

2) Why is it important to understand the relative age of rock layers?

3) What are the limitations of using only relative dating methods?

EXPLAIN:

Activity 1 - The teacher will demonstrate how to apply relative and absolute dating
methods on rock samples, guiding students through the process step by step.

Activity 2 - Students will engage in group discussions to compare their findings from
the fossil analysis activity, promoting collaboration and critical thinking.

Activity 3 - The memory game will reinforce the concept of rock layer dating in a fun
and interactive way, consolidating students' understanding.

ELABORATE:
[Teaching Strategy: Project-Based Learning]

Task 1 - Students will create a timeline poster illustrating the geological history of a
chosen region, incorporating rock layers and significant events.

Task 2 - Students will conduct a field trip to a local geological site to observe rock
formations and apply dating methods learned in class.

Supporting Material 1 - An article on the discovery of a new dating method for

volcanic rocks and its impact on geological research.

Supporting Material 2 - A scientific paper discussing the correlation between fossil

evidence and rock layer dating in determining Earth's past environments.

EVALUATE:

[Teaching Strategy: Think-Pair-Share]

[Instructional Materials: Assessment sheets]

Question 1 - Explain the significance of index fossils in relative dating.

Question 2 - How does the principle of superposition help in understanding the

sequence of rock layers?

Question 3 - Discuss the role of cross-cutting relationships in determining the relative

ages of geological features.
H.O.T.S.:

Question 1 - How would the absence of index fossils impact the accuracy of dating
rock layers?

Answer 1 - Index fossils are crucial for correlating rock layers across different
regions, so their absence could lead to inaccuracies in dating.

Question 2 - Compare and contrast the principles of original horizontality and lateral
continuity in interpreting rock formations.

Answer 2 - Original horizontality assumes that sedimentary layers are initially

deposited horizontally, while lateral continuity suggests that these layers extend
laterally until encountering a barrier.

Question 3 - Evaluate the reliability of radiometric dating methods in determining the

age of rocks compared to relative dating techniques.

Answer 3 - Radiometric dating provides absolute ages based on decay rates of

isotopes, offering more precise results than relative dating methods that rely on
stratigraphic relationships.

EXTEND:

[Teaching Strategy: Case Studies]

Use-case 1 - Students apply relative dating principles to analyze the layers of an

archaeological site to determine the sequence of human occupation.

Use-case 2 - Students investigate a rock outcrop near their community and apply
absolute dating methods to estimate the age of the rocks based on specific isotopes
found.

Assignment:

1) Research Paper - Students will write a research paper on a recent scientific

discovery related to dating methods in Earth and Life Sciences.

2) Field Journal - Students will maintain a field journal documenting their

observations and reflections during the geological field trip, focusing on rock
formations and dating techniques used.