Earth and Life Science

Quarter 1 – Module 13:

Geologic Time Scale:
Relative and Absolute Dating
Earth and Life Science
Alternative Delivery Mode
Quarter 1 – Module 13: Geologic Time Scale: Relative and Absolute Dating
First Edition, 2020

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Jocelyn M. Manset
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Earth and Life Science
Quarter 1 – Module 13:
Geologic Time Scale:
Relative and Absolute Dating
Introductory Message
For the facilitator:

Welcome to the Earth and Life Science for Grade 11 Alternative Delivery Mode
(ADM) Module on Geologic Time Scale: Relative and Absolute Dating.

This module was collaboratively designed, developed, and reviewed by educators

both from public and private institutions to assist you, the teacher or facilitator, in
helping the learners meet the standards set by the K to 12 Curriculum while
overcoming their personal, social, and economic constraints in schooling.

This learning resource hopes to engage the learners into guided and independent
learning activities at their own pace and time. Furthermore, this also aims to help
learners acquire the needed 21st century skills while taking into consideration
their needs and circumstances.

In addition to the material in the main text, you will also see this box in the body of
the module:

Notes to the Teacher

This contains helpful tips or strategies
that will help you in guiding the learners.

As a facilitator, you are expected to orient the learners on how to use this module.
You also need to keep track of the learners' progress while allowing them to
manage their own learning. Furthermore, you are expected to encourage and assist
the learners as they do the tasks included in the module.

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For the learner:

Welcome to the Earth and Life Science Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM) Module on
Geologic Time Scale: Relative and Absolute Dating.

The hand is one of the most symbolized parts of the human body. It is often used to
depict skill, action, and purpose. Through our hands, we may learn, create, and
accomplish many things. Hence, the hand in this learning resource signifies that
you, as a learner, are capable and empowered to successfully achieve the relevant
competencies and skills at your own pace and time. Your academic success lies in
your own hands!

This module was designed to provide you with fun and meaningful opportunities
for guided and independent learning at your own pace and time. You will be
enabled to process the contents of the learning resource while being an active
learner.

This module has the following parts and corresponding icons:

What I Need to Know This will give you an idea of the skills or
competencies you are expected to learn in
the module.

What I Know This part includes an activity that aims to

check what you already know about the
lesson to take. If you get all the answers
correct (100%), you may decide to skip this
module.

What’s In This is a brief drill or review to help you link

the current lesson with the previous one.

What’s New In this portion, the new lesson will be

introduced to you in various ways such as a
story, a song, a poem, a problem opener, an
activity or a situation.

What Is It This section provides a brief discussion of

the lesson. This aims to help you discover
and understand new concepts and skills.

What’s More This comprises activities for independent

practice to solidify your understanding and
skills of the topic. You may check the
answers to the exercises using the Answer
Key at the end of the module.

What I Have Learned This includes questions or blank

sentence/paragraph to be filled in to process
what you learned from the lesson.

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 What I Can Do This section provides an activity which will
help you transfer your new knowledge or
skill into real life situations or concerns.

Assessment This is a task which aims to evaluate your

level of mastery in achieving the learning
competency.

Additional Activities In this portion, another activity will be given

to you to enrich your knowledge or skill of
the lesson learned. This also tends retention
of learned concepts.

Answer Key This contains answers to all activities in the

module.

At the end of this module you will also find:

References This is a list of all sources used in

developing this module.

The following are some reminders in using this module:

1. Use the module with care. Do not put unnecessary mark/s on any part of the
module. Use a separate sheet of paper in answering the exercises.
2. Don’t forget to answer What I Know before moving on to the other activities
included in the module.
3. Read the instructions carefully before doing each task.
4. Observe honesty and integrity in doing the tasks and checking your answers.
5. Finish the task at hand before proceeding to the next.
6. Return this module to your teacher/facilitator once you are through with it.
If you encounter any difficulty in answering the tasks in this module, do not
hesitate to consult your teacher or facilitator. Always bear in mind that you are
not alone.

We hope that through this material, you will experience meaningful learning
and gain deep understanding of the relevant competencies. You can do it!

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 What I Need to Know

This module covers the scientific principles that the historical geologists used to
describe the Earth’s past. This will also serve as a guide to the clues that were left
on Earth, the different events, and the time it took these events to happen which
are depicted in the geologic time scale.
In this module, you will be able to determine the different divisions that comprise
the geologic time scale which uses the two methods of record: the absolute and the
relative dating.

The module is composed of the:

 Lesson: Geologic Time Scale: Relative and Absolute Dating

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. Name the divisions of the geologic time scale.

2. Characterize each major and subdivisions in the geologic time scale.
3. Describe how relative and absolute dating provide evidence of geologic
history.

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 What I Know

Before you use this module, take the Pretest below.

Directions: Read each item carefully. Choose the letter of the best answer and write
the chosen letter on a separate sheet of paper.

1. Which division in the geologic time represents a time span of about 88%?
A. Cenozoic
B. Mesozoic
C. Paleozoic
D. Precambrian

2. Which of the following division in the geologic time scale is considered as the
“Age of the Reptiles”?
A. Cenozoic
B. Mesozoic
A. Paleozoic
B. Precambrian

3. Which of these is the best indication of the relative age of a rock layer?
A. the thickness of the layer
B. the chemical makeup of the layer
C. the distance of the layer extends over the Earth
D. the position of the layer compared to other layers

4. In an undisturbed rock profile, where can the oldest be found?

A. in the middle
B. at the bottom
C. on the top
D. anywhere

5. In which of the given rocks is Radiometric dating least useful ?

A. granitic
B. basaltic
C. sedimentary
D. metamorphic

6. Which method was used in naming the subdivisions of the Earth’s

geology in a specific order?
A. isotopic dating
B. relative dating
C. absolute dating
D. radiometric dating

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 7. Which division in the geologic time shows evidence of molten rocks in the
Earth’s surface due to its high temperature?
A. Mesozoic Era
B. Precambrian
C. Miocene Epoch
D. Tertiary Period

8. What fraction of the Earth’s history is embraced by the geologic time scale?
A. evolution of life
B. formation of Earth
C. formation of universe
D. formation of the solar system

9. How are the geologic eras largely determined?

A. earth’s orbital position
B. shifts in the fossil record
C. average global temperature
D. distribution of rock sequences

10. In what geological periods did trilobites and other early arthropods appear?
A. Cambrian
B. Devonian
C. Permian
D. Eocene

11. In which geologic era do we currently live?

A. Cenozoic
B. Mesozoic
C. Paleozoic
D. Proterozoic

12. From the lists of divisions in the geologic time scale, which is considered as
the earliest?
A. Hadean
B. Archaean
C. Quaternary
D. Phanerozoic

13. Which of the following does NOT represent the geologic time scale?
A. the geologic history of universe
B. the fossil record of flora and fauna
C. the age of the Earth and its inhabitants
D. evolution of life dating back 4.6 billion years ago

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14. What do you call the organism that is no longer existing on Earth?
A. extinct
B. petrified
C. fossilized
D. sedimentary

15. Which geological era marks its end with the disappearance of the
dinosaurs?
A. Precambrian
B. Mesozoic Era
C. Miocene Epoch
D. Tertiary Period

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Lesson

1 Geologic Time Scale

Deposition of sediments contribute to reshaping the surface of the Earth. Deposits

are laid down by different environmental factors such as volcanic eruption, erosion,
weathering debris of rocks (clay and silts) and even all its fossil content and
historical information.

Earth history including its rock strata, the rock study, and discovery, as well as the
fossils, are engraved in one of the most important materials known as geologic
record. The geologic time scale is the “calendar” for events in Earth’s history.

The importance of Geologic time scale was, it serves as standard timeline used to
describe the age of rocks, fossils, and the events that formed them. A device which
is of great help to the science of geology owed to the explorations and studied made
by the geologists that were recorded.

The necessity of knowing how life began in the past, the events, and principles
behind the Earth’s history enable us to conform with the alterations or
consequences that we might encounter or experience in the near future. As a part
of the new generation, we should be appreciative and accept that all things that are
present in our time were the outcome of Earth’s history.

What’s In

In the previous lessons, you had learned that stratified rocks are products of
sedimentary process which include weathering and erosion of pre-existing rocks.
Wherein, these sediments will be transported by the agent of erosion such as water,
wind, or ice, and deposited in seas and acted upon by the process of compaction
and lithification. As time goes by, these sedimentary rocks will form layers or
stratification representing periods of deposition of sediments. Based on this, there
are several laws that governed stratigraphy as proposed by Nicolas Steno.
Nicolas Steno’s Law of Stratigraphy opens our eyes to the world of rock layers and
its formation. It also shows how endogenic and exogenic geological processes cause
alteration in rocks that lead to the formation and deformation of rock layers.

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 Let us find out if you can still recall how these laws are depicted in the rock strata.
Identify the law of stratigraphy the following diagrams represent.

A B

Guide questions:

A 1. What laws of stratigraphy does the picture in letter A tell us?

2. In picture B, new rocks were introduced. What law is best
explained in this kind of rock stratum?
3. How old is the rock that was intruded in stratum B?
4. What geologic processes existed in stratum B which causes its
deformation?
5. If you want to determine the age of the rocks in the rock layer,
what method are you going to use?

Notes to the Teacher

Let the learners describe how the laws explain the formation of
rock strata. Give the learners enough time to review what they
had learned in the previous lesson regarding relative and absolute
dating.

B
A

What’s New
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Sequence Drill
In a sequential manner, make five to seven relative events that happened in your
life. For example, the day you were born, the day your brother or sister was born,
or your first date with your boyfriend or girlfriend. Write your answer in the table
below.

Time Scale
Relative Scale Absolute Scale
I was born I was born Example
(Jan.28,2001)

The way the relative events are arranged in your data is similar to how the
geologists studied the Earth’s history: its geological timescale of Earth’s age and
how it is determined.

What Is It

Since the beginning, geologists have been studying the Earth to unwrap the secrets
of the past. They have been analyzing rock samples gathered from different
continents in the world including its layers and its correlation with the fossils. This
helps in relating the sequence of events in the Earth’s history which is clearly
presented in the geologic time scale.

The geologic time scale is divided into a series of time intervals which are equal in
length. These time intervals are different from that of a clock. They are divided
according to the significant events in the history of Earth such as the mass
extinction of a large population of fauna and flora.

Table 2. Geologic Time Scale

Eons Era Period Epoch Age

(Mya)
Holocene 0.01
Quaternary
Pleistocene 1.8

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 Cenozoic Pliocene 5.3
Tertiary
Miocene 23.0

Oligocene 33.9

Phanerozoic Eocene 55.8

Paleocene 65.5

Cretaceous 145
Mesozoic
Jurassic 200

Triassic 251

Permian 299

Paleozoic Pennsylvania 318

n
Mississippian 359

Devonian 416

Silurian 444

Ordovician 488

Cambrian 542

bacteria and
Proterozoic blue green 2500
algae
Precambrian

Archean oldest fossil 3800

Hadean Beginning of 4600

earth

The table represents the divisions of the geologic time in Earth’s history are
separated into eons, periods, and epochs. The Earth’s age which is 4.6 billion years
was separated into different span of time to handily indicate the events.

DIVISION IN THE GEOLOGIC TIME SCALE

EONS
 are the longest portions in the geologic time.

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Precambrian Phanerozoic Eon
 It accounts for 88%  It means visible life.
Earth’s history.  It is subdivided into eras:
 It is subdivided into three Paleozoic, Mesozoic and
eons: Hadean, Cenozoic.
Archean and Proterozoic

Paleozoic Era
Hadean Eon  It is the beginning of early
 Few rocks were deformed life.
and metamorphosed.  All of the continents had
come together to form the
Archaean Eon supercontinent called
 Marine rocks contain Pangea.
fossil remains of  It is characterized by rapid
microscopic algae and development of terrestrial
bacteria plants.
 Devonian period is known
as the age of fishes.
Proterozoic Eon
 rifting of the continental Mesozoic Era
crust  It is also known as the Age
 subsequent filling with of Dinosaurs.
sedimentary and volcanic  Pangea rifted into
rocks Laurasia and
Gondwanaland.

Cenozoic Era
 It is also known as the age
of recent life or age of
mammals.
 It has the most complete
record of any era because
the rocks are more
accessible.

DIVISION OF THE CENOZOIC ERA

Cenozoic Era
 There are three periods in this
era: Quaternary, Paleogene and
Neogene.

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 Paleogene Period Neogene Period
 Most Earth’s climate  It gives rise to early
was tropical. primates.
 Continents drifted  It consists of Miocene
apart creating vast and Pliocene Epochs
stretches of oceans
 It consists the
Paleocene, Eocene, and
Oligocene Epoch

Quaternary Period
 It is the most recent period.
 It is also termed Anthropogene
period.
 It is divided into two epochs:
Pleistocene and Holocene.
 Holocene - when human
civilization arose.

Relative and Absolute Dating

Scientists first developed the geologic time scale by studying rock layers and index
fossils. The information gathered by the scientists placed the Earth rock strata in
order by relative age. Geologic time is often discussed in two forms: relative time
and the absolute time.
Relative time is a subdivision of the Earth’s geology in a specific order based upon
the relative age relationships (commonly, vertical or stratigraphic position). These
relative time can be established usually on the basis of fossils. On the other hand,
absolute time refers to the numerical ages in millions of years or some other
measurement. These are obtained by radioactive dating methods performed on
appropriate rocks.
Relative time can be referred to as its physical aspects found in rocks while the
absolute time refers to the measurements taken upon those to determine the actual
time it expired. The time scale is depicted in its traditional form with the oldest at
the bottom and the youngest at the top.

What’s More

Activity 1.1 It’s a Date

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 1. Fill in the data table to show the number of millions of years each era lasted
based on relative and absolute dating. Choose your answer from the given
choices below.
a. 4.048 mya c. 299 mya e. 4,600mya
b. 69 mya d. 184mya
The Divisions of Percent Millions of years
Geologic Time
The Age of the Earth 100%
A. Cenozoic Era 1.5%
B. Mesozoic Era 4%
C. Paleozoic Era 6.5%
D. Precambrian Time 88%

Guide Questions:

1. Based on the data table, which is the oldest era? _________________

2. How old is the shortest era? _______________
3. How old is the Cenozoic Era? ______________
4. What dating method is applied in the activity? Why? _____________
5. Where can we apply the relative dating method? ________________

Activity 1.2 You Complete it

Complete the timeline of the geologic time scale starting from the oldest to recent
time. Indicate each division and year.Use the data table in Activity 1.1 as reference.

1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10

Activity 1.3 Word Pool

Identify the term being described by the given statement.Select your answer from
the word pool below.

Geologic record Eons Dinosaurs

Relative dating Cenozoic Sedimentary
Absolute dating Holocene
11 Devonian
Archaean Paleozoic
_____________1. It is where all traces of history of earth is recorded in rocks that
make up the crust.
_____________ 2. It is a way on how the age of rocks and fossils can be determined
by its numeric value.
_____________ 3. It is the largest division in the geologic time scale.
_____________ 4. It refers to the rocks that are deposited and used in dating method.
_____________ 5. It is used to determine the geological events in rock strata.
_____________ 6. It refers to prominent reptiles that evolved during Mesozoic Era.
_____________ 7. The fitting of supercontinent Pangea happened in this era.
_____________ 8. The present human evolved during this age.
_____________ 9. It refers to the age of the fishes.
_____________ 10. Ancient bacteria and blue green algae existed during this age.

What I Have Learned

Activity 1.4 Vocabulary Building

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Make a concept definition map for each of the vocabulary terms listed below. Write
the term in the central box. Fill in the other boxes by answering the questions. The
first term is done for you.

A. Fossil

What information does it What are some of its

give? characteristics?

gives clues about Usually found in

Earth’s past sedimentary rock

Shows only hard

parts of plant or
FOSSIL animal

Shows changes in life

and the environment

B. Geologic Time Scale

C. Relative Dating
D. Absolute Dating

Things to Ponder
 Geologic time scale is a timeline that illustrates Earth’s past.
 Geologic time scale describes the order of duration of major events on Earth for
the last 4.6 billion years.
 Geologic time scale was developed after the scientist observed changes in the
fossils and rocks going from oldest to youngest sedimentary rocks.
 Geologic time scale was divided into four divisions which include the Eons, Era,
Period, and Epoch.
 Eons is the largest division in the geologic time scale.
 Relative dating or age is the order of the rocks from oldest to youngest.
 Relative dating does not determine the exact age of rock or fossils but does
learn which one is older or younger than the other.
 Relative age of rocks based on the order gives its physical division in the
geologic time scale.
 Absolute dating or age measures the amount of radioactive elements in rocks to
give the ages to each division of time in the geologic time scale.
 Absolute time refers to the numerical ages in millions of years or some other
measurement.

What I Can Do

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Make a diary noting the important events that happened in your life for the day
which you can associate with the geologic time scale.

DATE DAYS OF THE EVENT/ACTIVITY

WEEK

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Assessment

Directions: Read each statement and choose the letter of the correct answer. Shade
the circle that corresponds to the correct answer.

1. What information does the geologic time record provide?

A. the rate of fossil formation

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 B. the thickness of sedimentary rock layers
C. the time since the evolution of dinosaurs
D. the life forms and geologic events in Earth’s history

2. How do geologists separate time into period?

A. by the time the fossil is discovered
B. by looking at the relative time of a fossil
C. by special events that have happened in that period
D. by counting the years that a fossil has been preserved

3. What do you call the method of placing geologic events in sequential order
as determined by their position in the rock record?
A. correlation
B. uniformitarianism
C. relative dating
D. absolute dating

4. How important is absolute time?

A. It is useful if fossils are present.
B. It gives a specific date in an object.
C. It gives a non-specific date in an object.
D. It only gives the sequence in which events have taken place.

5. Which of the following is the primal in absolute dating method?

A. fossils
B. radioactive decay
C. educated estimates
D. cross-cutting relationships

6. Which method is primarily used to establish the geologic time scale?

A. calculation of beta decay of isotopes
B. correlation of rock types across vast
C. calculation of alpha decay of isotope
D.distances correlation of magnetic signatures in rocks

7. Which of the following era is sometimes called “the age of fish” or

“ancient
life”?
A. Cenozoic
B. Mesozoic
C. Paleozoic
D. Precambrian

8. What will be the sequence of division in the geologic time scale, if the order
of position is from shortest to longest?

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 A. era, period, epoch
B. epoch, period, era
C. period, epoch, era
D. epoch, era, period

9. Scientists use a criterion to decide where to place the boundaries between

the major divisions of the geologic time scale. They consider major changes.
Where can these major changes be found?
A. written in the fossil record
B. occurring in the solar system
C. in structure of the Earth’s layer
D. in the arrangement of the continent

10. In which division in the geologic time scale did the continents come together
to form the supercontinent called Pangaea?
A. Paleozoic Era
B. Cenozoic Era
C. Triassic Period
D. Jurassic Period

11. In what ways do eras differ from periods?

A. They are longer spans of time.
B. They are subdivided into epochs.
C. They have longer durations than eons.
D. They have boundaries marked by mass extinctions.

12. Which epoch in the geologic time scale represents human lives in a very
short period of time?
A. Eocene
B. Pliocene
C. Holocene
D. Pleistocene

13. Why are fossils recorded in the geologic time scale said to be incomplete?
A. Remains of past organism decayed faster.
B. Absence of tools to be used for tracing.
C. Most organisms never became fossils.
D. All of the above

14. In what way does the geologic time scale place Earth’s rock in order?
A. by composition
B. by relative dating
C. by absolute dating
D. by decades and centuries

15. What makes fossil essential to the scientists and to the history of the Earth?
A. It analyzes the composition of sedimentary rock

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 B. It predicts what organisms will become extinct.
C. It describes the history of past life and environment.
D. It presents temperature of the oceans in different depths.

Additional Activities

Create your own representation of geologic time scale on rocks indicating the
relative and absolute dating. Use discarded material in your output.

Answer Key

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 What's More
Activity 1.4
Assessment What's
What's More
More
Activity 1.3
1. D 11.B 1.Geologic Time Scale
2. B 12.C Activity 2
3. C 13. D
4. B 14.B -timeline that illustrates
5. B 15.C 1. Precambrian
Earth’s past
6. B 1. Geologic records
7. C 2. Paleozoic
8. B Characteristics
9. A 2. Absolute dating
3. Mesozoic
10.A -divided into
eons,era,period,epoch 3. Eons
4. Cenozoic

- uses the relative and 4. Sedimentary

5. 5.Recent time
Relative dating
absolute dating
6. Dinosaurs
6. 7.4.048mya
Paleozoic
2. Relate dating 8. Holocene
9. Devonian
10. Archaean

What's More

Activity1.1 Its a Date

1.E
2.A
3.B
4.D
5. C
Answer:
1.D
2.A
3.B
4.Absolute dating
5.Precambrian is the oldest
era because it is located at
the bottom.

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References
All About Creation. “Relative Dating.” Accessed February 24,2019.
https://www.allaboutcreation.org/relative-dating-faq.html

“Centricity.” Accessed February 24,2019.

https://www.lcps.org/cms/lib4/VA01000195/centricity

Earth Science Week. “Geological Timescale.” Accessed February 24,2019.

https:www.earthsciweek.org/content/geo;ogial-time-scale

Kean. Accessed February 25,2019.

http://www.kean.edu/csmart/observing/lecture/homework

“Layers of Rock.” Accessed February

24,2019,https://halletcove.weebly.com/layers-of-rock.html

“Observing Lectures,” Accessed February 25,2019.

https://www.kean.edu/~csmart/Observing/ Lectures/ Homework08s.doc

Oxford University Press.“The Past in Perspective.” Accessed February 25, 2019.

http://global.oup.com/us/companion.websites/9780195391350/student/c
hapt2/Quiz/

ProProfsQuizzes.“A Trivia Quiz on Geological Dating.” Accessed February 25, 2019.

www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/story.php?title=geological-dating

Quizziz. “Relative and Absolute Dating.” Accessed February 25,2019.

https://quizizz.com/admin/quiz/570bb06788512b8d10163a2e

“Relative Vs. Absolute Dating,” accessed February 24,2019,

https://science.truck.com/relative-vs-absolute-dating

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