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In this 5E sequence students model nuclear decay by emptying a bag of one hundred pennies on a table and removing all the pennies that are on the tails side (or that have decayed). Students repeat this process with remaining non-decayed pennies several times and record the data. Then students make connections to a radiometric dating and calculate the age of several objects using nuclear decay data. Finally, students elaborate on their learning so far in the unit by completing a 3-level guide that supports them in reading and interpreting the Geologic Time Scale found in the Earth Science Reference Table.  

Your challenge is to determine what your fossil is, how old the fossil is, and if the fossil could be found within the bedrock of New York State. You will organize your data about the fossil with the aid of a variety of questions. Based on the data provided and your Earth Science Reference Table, write a scientific explanation using evidence determining if your fossil could have existed in New York State.

The Earth's geologic history tells a story about the inception of life and the rise and fall of species, showing life is fragile in the face of gradual and sudden changes to the environment. In this unit, students will learn how rock and fossil observations in combination with radioactive dating techniques have been used to construct a geologic time scale.

Students work in groups to complete this reading guide as a tool for making sense of a complex diagram in the Earth Science Reference Tables.

Students model formation of sedimentary rock layers using various types of sediment. Students then model deformation of rock layers using clay. 

This booklet can be used with teams of teachers to work through the resources in Unit 4.