Week 6: Geologic Time

 

  1. This week in lab, we began by reviewing for the exam. We reviewed the life cycle of a star, shadows, meteors compared to meteorites, and the phases of the moon. We then transitioned into learning about Earth science. I found it interesting how Earth science is connected to politics, as Barack Obama won the election by utilizing the coastline. We then created a timeline around the classroom including events such as: human appearance, dinosaurs, first land plants, first land animals, and the creation of the moon. This activity was helpful to visualize when these events occurred and how long our planet has existed before us.This activity was paired with an online Earth simulator, EarthViewer, that allowed us to see more events that have occurred and how our planet has changed. We used this information to correct and build on our timeline. These activities combined were helpful to visualize and correct our preconceptions. Therefore, I would definitely use both in my future classroom. 

  2. How has Earth evolved over time, and what key events have allowed plants, animals, and humans to appear? 

  3. We had an exam this week during discussion.

  4. In Chapter 6, I deepened my understanding of the history of our Earth. I learned that the Earth was created 4.65 billion years ago. Following Earth’s creation rocks, oxygen, plants, animals, and eventually humans all developed over a long span of time. I found it helpful to view these events on the clock, as it is difficult to imagine a timeline that dates back over 4 billion years. While looking at the clock, I found it especially interesting that humans would have appeared 20 seconds before midnight. That helps to put into perspective how long our Earth has been functioning before us, and how long it will after us. I also found it interesting to learn how at least three times in Earth’s history, our planet has been almost entirely engulfed in ice, and this event is called Snowball Earth. While I found this interesting, I am still struggling to understand how the ice melted and why this likely will not happen again. But, overall, the information and visuals throughout this chapter were helpful to strengthen my understanding of the history of our Earth. 

  5. I don’t have any questions, comments, or concerns at this time.

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