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Activity 2
When Did They First Appear?
Students
uncover the order in which different life forms appeared on earth.
Activity available in PDF format
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Unit:
Fossils in Time
Guiding Questions:
What is
paleontology? How has life evolved on earth?
Critical Content:
Paleontology is the
study of ancient life. There are four major eras
of the earth's history and of life described in the Geologic
Time Scale.
Grades: 4-8
Duration:
30-60
minutes
Group size:
individuals or in
groups of 2 or 3
Setting: classroom
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Before
You Begin: Students
should read Introduction
to Paleontology and The
Geologic Time Scale.
If the readings are too difficult for younger students, explain
the material to the class and give them the Geologic Time Scale
as a reference.
Background: Many different plants and
animals have inhabited the earth during its long history. Some of
these appeared many millions, even billions, of years ago. Some
appeared only recently. Some of these organisms, or types of
organisms have gone extinct, some have evolved into different
organisms, and others are still here today. To understand the
changing environment of the earth, how these plants and animals
evolved, and what the different eras and periods of the geologic
time scale mean, it is helpful to understand when different
organisms first appeared on the earth.
Materials:
The tables
When Did They First Appear?
and Progression of Life on
Earth
Research resources: any resources that will help
students research the appearance of different life forms, including
reference books and the Internet.
Vocabulary:
-
Geologic Time
Era
Period
Fossil
Organism
Vertebrate
Procedures:
1. Students
split into groups of one or more. Assign each of the organisms in
the table below to a group. Groups may be assigned more than one
organism. For older students, you can assign all of the
organisms to each student to research independently.
2. For
each organism, the group researches how long ago it first appeared
on the earth. Use the Internet, the library, or any other
appropriate resources to research the information.
3. As
a class fill in the
When Did
They First Appear table.
4. Students
fill in The Progression of
Life on Earth table using the class generated research from
step 3 above. Students may fill this in individually, in their
groups, or as a whole class.
5. Review
the Discussion Questions. Use them in open discussion for the whole
class, or have students / groups answer them separately.
Discussion
Questions:
1.
Did dinosaurs and mammals ever live on earth at the same time?
2.
Did dinosaurs and humans live at the same time?
3.
In what order did reptiles, fish, amphibians, and mammals evolve?
Why do you think that order is important?
4.
Did animals first appear on land or in water?
5.
Which appeared first in the water algae or animals? Which appeared
first on land, plants or vertebrates? Why might this be?
6.
Which have been around longer: insects or birds?
7.
Which organism on the list is the oldest, and which is the youngest?
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