Yellowstone Lake in 1871 Subjects Science Mathematics Objectives The student will: Display understanding of the vastness of geologic time. Create an analogy of the geologic time scale. Describe geologic events applicable to Yellowstone National Park in terms of a geologic time scale analogy. Materials Equation used to compute numbers in geologic time scale analogy List of events and approximate dates in the geologic history of Yellowstone Paper Pencil Calculator Background The Earth is very old-4.6 billion years or more-according to recent estimates. This time span can be difficult to comprehend. Creating a personal analogy may help students to understand this concept. The equation used to create figures in their analogies is: Years before Present of Past Event X (unknown) _______________________ = ______________ 4.6 x 109 years (known age of Earth) Largest Measurement in Analogy Example of an analogy using a calendar year of 365 days Age of First Oxygen (2.0 x 109) X _______________________ = ______________ 4.6 x 109 years (known age of Earth) 365 Days Cross multiply for X, i.e.: 2.0 x 109 (365) = X(4.6 x 109) or 2.0 x 109 (365) (4.6 x 109) = X The time of first oxygen on the Earth in a 365 day calendar analogy is 159 days prior to the end of the year, or approximately July 26. To understand the geologic event of Yellowstone National Park, students should include the following key events in their analogy: 2.1 billion years ago Age of oldest rocks in Yellowstone 500 million years ago Yellowstone covered by seas 55 million years ago Absaroka Volcanics begins 2.1 million years ago Beginning of the hotspot caldera eruptions 640,000 years ago Most recent Yellowstone hotspot caldera eruption 15,000 years ago Yellowstone covered by glaciers 133 years ago Yellowstone designated as the first national park Procedure The instructor will: Lead a discussion about the vastness of geologic time. Teach the students how to use the equation given in the background section by working through examples. Provide students with a list of key events in the geologic history of Yellowstone National Park. Instruct students to complete the calculations in their analogies. Direct students to present their analogies to the rest of the class. Assessment Analogies and computations National Science Standards for Grades 5-8 NS.5-8.4 National Social Studies Standards for Grades K-12 NSS.G.K-12.1 NSS-G.K-12.6 National Mathematics Standards NM-NUM.6-8.1 NM-NUM.6-8.2 NM-NUM.6-8.3 NM-ALG 6-8.2 NM-PROB.PK-12.1 NM-PROB.PK-12.2 NM-PROB.PK-12.3 NM-PROB.CONN.PK-12.3 NM-PROB.REP.PK-12.3 This material is based on work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No.0307709 Funding for this trip was provided by generous grants to the Yellowstone Park Foundation. Home | Curricular Materials | Ask An Expert | Evaluation | Contact Us ©The Yellowstone Park Foundation 2004 Privacy Disclaimer | Freedom of Information Act