EARTH AND LIFE SCIENCE

QUARTER 1 GEOLOGICAL HISTORY OF EARTH MODULE 6

MELC 13 Week No. 6 Code: S11/12ES-Ie-27: Explain how relative and absolute
dating were used to determine the subdivisions of geologic time.
MELC 14 Week No. 6 Code: S11/12ES-Ie-29: Describe how the Earth’s history
can be interpreted from the geologic time scale.
 Page |2

Earth and Life Science – Grade 11

Supplementary Learning Material

Republic Act 8293, section 176 states that: No copyright shall subsist in any
work of the Government of the Philippines. However, prior approval of the
government agency or office wherein the work is created shall be necessary for
exploitation of such work for profit. Such agency or office may, among other things,
impose as a condition the payment of royalties.
Borrowed materials (i.e., songs, stories, poems, pictures, photos, brand
names, trademarks, etc.) included in this module are owned by their respective
copyright holders. Every effort has been exerted to locate and seek permission to use
these materials from their respective copyright owners. The publisher and authors
do not represent nor claim ownership over them.

DEVELOPMENT TEAM OF THE MODULE

Writer: Henrick C. Bajo
Content Editor: Agnes A. Alegre, PhD
Language Editor: Roxane S. Villanueva
Layout and Design Editor: Henrick C. Bajo
Illustrator: Henrick C. Bajo
Cover Layout Artist: Nemesio S. Cancan Jr.
MANAGEMENT TEAM
OIC-SDS: Romela M. Cruz, CESE
CID Chief: Alyn G. Mendoza, PhDTE
SGOD Chief: Emma G. Arrubio
EPS-in-Charge: Restituto I. Rodelas
EPS-LRMS: Ruby E. Baniqued, EDD

Department of Education – Schools Division Office, Mandaluyong

Office Address: Calbayog St. Highway Hills, Mandaluyong City
Telephone number: CID- 79552557
E-mail Address:sdo.mandaluyong@deped.gov.ph ● www.depedmandaluyong.org
The following are some reminders in using this module:

1. Handle this module with care. Use a separate sheet in answering the
exercises.
2. Read the directions carefully before doing each task.
3. Activities in this module can be done individually or with the help of your
teacher, home learning partner or knowledge source partner.
4. Finish this module for the intended week.
5. Return this module to the authorize person in charge of retrieval.
1. MELC Code: S11/12ES-Ie-27 2. MELC Code: S11/12ES-Ie-29
 Page |3

Earth & Life

Science

NAME SECTION SCORE

TEACHER DATE

OBJECTIVES After you have finished working on this module, you are expected to:
After you have finished
1. Acquire familiarity with Geologic Time Scale.
2. Describe how relative and absolute dating were used to subdivide geologic time.
3. Explain the concept of radioactive decay in terms of parent/daughter elements and half-
life
4. Interpret decay curves.
5. Identify the timing and duration of the major events in Earth’s History.
6. Recognize how short human history is in relation to the history of the Earth.

PRETEST Answer this to determine how much you already know about the lessons.

Identify if the following statements are correct or incorrect. Put on the space provided, if
correct, otherwise draw

__1. Relative dating gives an exact age.

__2. Absolute dating gives a precise age.
__3. Radioactive decay can determine age.
__4. The Cenozoic is the age of mammals.
__5. Relative dating deals with rock sequences
__6. Isotopes are determined via atomic mass.
__7. The Permian is known as the age of the fish.
__8. The bottom layers of rocks are usually the oldest.
__9. The explosion of life occurred in the Cambrian.
__10. Relative dating is more precise compared to absolute dating.

REVIEW How can you relate the lessons in this module to your prior knowledge?

List the types of folds and faults. Determine which type of stress (force) is exerted on this
rock deformations.
Types of Folds Types of Faults

1. MELC Code: S11/12ES-Ie-27 2. MELC Code: S11/12ES-Ie-29

 Page |4

KEY CONCEPTS After the end of this module, you should have learned that:

RELATIVE DATING ABSOLUTE DATING

refers to the use of rock layers in order to determine provides a method of numerically estimating
the sequence of age. the age of a rock layer.

This involves the use of an isotope

The law of original horizontality states
, which is an atom of an element
that sediments are deposited
with a different number of
horizontally.
neutrons.

This involves computing from the

The law of superposition states that
half-life , which is the time it takes
the upper layers are younger than
for the amount of atoms to be cut
the lower layers.
in half

The principle of lateral continuity states that layers of

sediments spread out in all directions until they thin Scientists study the amounts of
out at the edge of the depositional basin or grade parent and daughter isotopes to
into a different kind of sediment. date samples.

The principle of cross-cutting relationships

states that geologic features that cut across
rocks are younger than the rocks which they
cut through.

The Geologic Time Scale is divided by the

following divisions:
Eons: Longest subdivision; based on the
abundance of certain fossils
Eras: Next to longest subdivision; marked by
major changes in the fossil record
Periods: Based on types of life existing at the
time
Epochs: Shortest subdivision; marked by
differences in life forms and can vary from
continent to continent.

INTRODUCTION Get READY. SET yourself to #studymode. Here we GO !!!

For Activity 1 Part A, you will study the rocks and events in a geologic cross section and put them in
the correct order from oldest to youngest. In order to do your best on this activity, you must
understand a few of the basic principles that are applicable to relative age relationships between
rocks:
Principle of superposition: in a sequence of undeformed sedimentary rocks, the oldest beds are on
the bottom and the youngest are on the top.
Principle of original horizontality: sedimentary layers are horizontal, or nearly so, when

1. MELC Code: S11/12ES-Ie-27 2. MELC Code: S11/12ES-Ie-29

originally deposited. Strata that are not horizontal have been deformed by movements of the Earth’s
crust.
Principle of faunal succession: groups of fossil plants and animals occur in the geologic record in a
definite and determinable order. A period of geologic time can be recognized by its respective fossils.
Principle of crosscutting relations: geologic features, such as faults, and igneous intrusions are
younger than the rocks they cut.
Principle of inclusion: a rock body that contains inclusions of preexisting rocks is younger that the
rocks from which the inclusions came from.

For Part B and C, you will learn about how the absolute age of rock can be determined using the
following concepts.

• Isotopes: atoms of the same element with a different number of neutrons

• Radioactive isotopes are isotopes that are unstable and break down into other isotopes by a process
called radioactive decay.
• The radioactive isotope is called the parent isotope, and the stable isotope formed by its breakdown
is called the daughter isotope.
• Half-life is the time needed for half of a sample of a radioactive element to undergo radioactive
decay and form daughter isotopes. After one half-life has passed, one-half of the parent isotope has
changed into daughter.
• Scientists study the amounts of parent and daughter isotopes to date samples. Finding the absolute
age of a sample by determining the relative percentages of a radioactive parent isotope and a stable
daughter isotope is called radiometric dating.

ACTIVITY 1 TYPES OF EROSION

PART A. RELATIVE DATING. For each of the following cross sections, determine the relative age
sequence of the rocks. Place the answers in the spaces on. Remember, always start by looking for the
oldest rock first and working your way from oldest to youngest. Don’t forget to consider all intrusions
and faults! The diagrams go from simplest to hardest to let you progressively improve your skills.

1. Oldest___________________________Youngest 3. Oldest __________________________Youngest

4. Oldest___________________________Youngest
2. Oldest___________________________Youngest

1. MELC Code: S11/12ES-Ie-27 2. MELC Code: S11/12ES-Ie-29

PART B. ABSOLUTE DATING. Study the diagram below about the radioactive decay of Carbon-
14. Then answer the questions that follow.

1. Which element shown is the radioactive isotope? _______________________________

2. Which element shown is the stable nonradioactive element?_____________________
3. What is the half-life of C-14?_______________________
4. How many half-lives will it take for all but 25 percent of the original C-14 to decay? _______________
How many years? _______________________
5. What percentage of C-14 remains after three half-lives?______________________
6. What percentage of N-14 forms after 17 090 years? ___________________________

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING. Answer this before proceeding to the next part.
What is the difference between relative dating and absolute dating?

ACTIVITY 2 GEOLOGIC TIME SCALE

PART A. Fill in the data table to show the number of millions of years each Era lasted. Create a
pie chart to show the percentage of time each Era of geologic time represents in the Geologic
Time Scale

The Divisions of Geologic Percent Years

Time
The age of the Earth 100% 4,600,000,000
Cenozoic Era 1.5%
Mesozoic Era 4.0%
Paleozoic Era 6.5%
Precambrian Time 88.0%

PART B. Use the Geologic Time Scale to answer the following questions.
1. What is the name given to the largest divisions of geological time?
_________________________________________________________
2. Approximately how long are these divisions? _____________________
3. Name the three of these divisions which extend throughout Earth history.
_____________________ _____________________ ________________________

4. During which of these divisions has almost all the noticeable evolution of life occurred?
________________________________________________________
5. Name the smaller divisions into which these has been divided. ______________________________________
1. MELC Code: S11/12ES-Ie-27 2. MELC Code: S11/12ES-Ie-29
6. What events mark the end of one era and the beginning of the next? ______________________________

7. Describe two changes the make the Cambrian period especially significant in the evolution of life.
___________________________________ _________________________________

8. Name the longest eon in the history of Earth _________________________

9. Which is the shortest eon? __________________________________________

10. Why do you think the longest eon is the oldest, and the shortest eon is the most recent?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
11. The “Age of Dinosaurs” encompasses the period of the ____________________era.
12. Why do you think that only the periods of the Cainozoic era have been divided into epochs?
____________________________________________________________________________________________
13. In which eon, era, period and epoch do we live?
__________________________ __________________________ _____________________________

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING. Answer this before proceeding to the next part.
What is the importance of studying the geologic time scale?

WRAP-UP Great job! Now it’s time for you to reflect on what you have learned.

Make a relative time scale out of 10 events that have occurred in your lifetime. For example, include
important events such as your birth, something you did today, started schooling, and losing your first
tooth. Remember, these events only show chronological order, not exact dates. After making a relative
time scale, assign dates to the events that you chose, so that it is an absolute time scale.
MY LIFETIME SCALE
Relative Dating Absolute Dating

POST TEST Answer this to determine how much you gained from the lessons.

MULTIPLE CHOICE. Write the letter of your answer.

__1. Which principle explains that the oldest rocks are at the bottom of an undisturbed rock
sequence.
A. uniformitarianism. C. superposition.
B. original horizontality. D. cross-cutting relationships.

1. MELC Code: S11/12ES-Ie-27 2. MELC Code: S11/12ES-Ie-29

__2. What geologic principle that states that sedimentary rocks are deposited in horizontal
layers?
A. uniformitarianism. C. superposition.
B. original horizontality. D. cross-cutting relationships.
__3. Which principle explains that a fault is younger than the rock it cuts across?
A. uniformitarianism. C. superposition.
B. original horizontality. D. cross-cutting relationships.
__4. In an undisturbed rock sequence, where is the youngest rock layer located?
A. at the bottom of the sequence. C. below the sedimentary rock layer.
B. at the top of the sequence. D. below the unconformity.
___5. Which statement best describes the relative age of a rock layer that contains inclusions?
A. older than the source of the inclusions. C. older than the layer below it.
B. younger than the source of the inclusions. D. the same as the intrusion that cuts across it.
___6. A rock formed with 1,000 atoms of a radioactive parent element, but only contains 250
radioactive parent atoms today. If the half-life is 1,000,000 years, how old is the rock?
A. 250,000 years C. 500,000 years
B. 1,000,000 years D. 2,000,000 years
___7. Which measurable amount of sample is needed for radiometric dating?
A. sample of parent isotopes only C. sample of both parent and daughter isotopes
B. sample of daughter isotopes D. sample of either parent or daughter isotopes
___8. In which Era do mammals became abundant?
A. Cenozoic B. Mesozoic C. Paleozoic D. Precambrian
__9. In which Era does land plants first appear?
A. Cenozoic B. Mesozoic C. Paleozoic D. Precambrian
__10. In which boundaries or transition, do major changes in the life forms present on Earth
seems to coincide?
A. Epochs B. Era C. Eon D. Periods

REFERENCES:
• Tarbuck, Edward J., and Lutgens, Frederick K. 2015. Earth Science. 14th edition.
Pearson Education Inc. USA.
• Geologic Time and Earth’s Biological History. Accessed June 15, 2020
htttp://ftpdata.dnr.sc.gov/geology/Education/PDF/Geologic%20Time.pdf
• Quipper Teachers Guide Unit 11.2 Relative and Absolute Dating. Accessed June 15,
2020.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yiXGM8mojmYngLMFuS5pLMVwC7wfvG8T/view
• Quipper Teachers Guide Unit 11.4 Earth’s History from Geologic Time Scale
Accessed June 15, 2020.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wGUeIM7qkw2bhWb5gTV4g7oG8rLnBDOZ/view
PHOTO CREDITS:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Geologic_TimeScale.gif

For inquiries or feedback, please write or call:

Department of Education – Schools Division Office-Mandaluyong

Calbayog Street, Highway Hills, Mandaluyong City 1500

Telefax: (632) 79552557

Email Address: sdo.mandaluyong@deped.gov.ph

www.depedmandaluyong.org

1. MELC Code: S11/12ES-Ie-27 2. MELC Code: S11/12ES-Ie-29

1. MELC Code: S11/12ES-Ie-27 2. MELC Code: S11/12ES-Ie-29