Generated on 6/17/2026 at 9:30 PM
The webpage this document was printed/exported from can be found at the following URL:
https://www.cpalms.org/PreviewStandard/Preview/1795

Benchmark #: SC.7.E.6.3

Identify current methods for measuring the age of Earth and its parts, including the law of superposition and radioactive dating.

Benchmark Information

General Information

Subject Area: Science
Grade: 7
Body of Knowledge: Earth and Space Science
Idea: Level 2: Basic Application of Skills & Concepts
Big Idea: Earth Structures - Over geologic time, internal and external sources of energy have continuously altered the features of Earth by means of both constructive and destructive forces. All life, including human civilization, is dependent on Earth's internal and external energy and material resources.
Date Adopted or Revised: 02/08
Content Complexity Rating: Level 2: Basic Application of Skills & Concepts - More Information
Date of Last Rating: 05/08
Status: State Board Approved
Assessed: Yes
  • SC.7.E.6.Su.2 Recognize that mountains change size and shape over a long period of time.
  • SC.7.E.6.In.3 Demonstrate how older rock layers are deposited at the bottom before younger layers (Law of Superposition).
  • SC.7.E.6.Pa.3 Recognize that ground on the Earth’s surface changes over time.

Lesson Plans

  • Radioactive Dating Lesson 4 - Recursive Division This lesson introduces students to the idea of recursive division and its application to radioactive dating with a worksheet and Scratch programming. This is the final lesson in the Radioactive Dating Unit.
  • Radioactive Dating Lesson 3 - Modeling Students will further explore the idea of radioactive dating through a drawing activity and creating a model simulation in Scratch.
  • Radioactive Dating Lesson 2 Students will learn about the importance of using multiple radioactive dating methods to date an artifact as well as learn about the if programming control structure. This is Lesson 2 in the Radioactive Dating Unit and will begin the experience in coding a program to illustrate student understanding of radioactive dating.
  • Radioactive Dating Lesson 1 Read about a recent uncovering of mammoths to engage students in a discussion of radioactive dating. This is the first lesson in a unit of 4 lessons that integrates science, math, and computer science standards to teach the concept of half-lives and radioactive dating.
  • Radioactive Dating: Half-Life & Geologic Time In this Model Eliciting Activity (MEA), students must use their knowledge of radioactive dating and geologic time to select an effective elemental isotope to be used to date three rare specimens. This decision requires an understanding of the concept of a half-life and the benefits and limitations of radiometric dating. Students must complete mathematical calculations involving equations and operations with fractions and percentages. Students completing this MEA must develop two essays that respond in a professional manner to a client in the scientific industry. Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom.
  • Time Travelers: Measuring the Age of the Earth The student will collect and analyze data, collaborate and discuss their findings, compare their findings to one another, and apply their findings to unknowns. Students will build a timeline based on the masses of substances to develop a basic understanding of absolute age by radioactive dating and how it compares to relative age based on the Law of Superposition. Students will measure the mass of several objects which will represent "fossils." Each object's mass will represent a specific age of the object. Students will gain an understanding of how scientists use absolute dating to accurately determine the age of objects and how relative dating is used to generally determine the age of objects.
  • Layers and Laws The students will identify patterns in fossils and explain their understanding of how rock layers are deposited. They will use the evidence from the activity to make inferences about what the Earth was like during the time the fossils existed. Students will develop an understanding of how fossils give scientists clues as to what the early Earth was like in the past. Students will also show how fossils can be used to relatively date rock layers using the Law of Superposition and index fossils.
  • Radiometric Dating In this activity, students model the process of radiometric dating, and apply basic mathematics skills to understand how scientists used the process of radioactive decay as a tool to learn about Earth's past.
  • The Candyville Mall Dilemma- Radioactive Dating The students will complete a hands-on activity using M&Ms to demonstrate the principles of radioactive decay. At the conclusion of this lesson, students will understand the term half-life and know how to utilize a graph of radioactive decay to approximate the age of a "fossil". This activity involves recording and graphing data as well as a short data analysis segment. This resource requires materials (M&Ms, Containers, & Calculators) in order to complete and is more fun for the students when they are allowed to eat after their data collection is complete.
  • Sweet Superposition! This lesson addresses only the Law of Superposition portion and not radiometric dating. Students will investigate the correlation between rock layers and fossil age. Students will also become familiar with the Law of Superposition and apply to finding the relative age of excavated "fossils".
  • Layers and Layers This lesson has students create their own rock layers by slowly adding and observing how different types of sediment interact when layered upon each other. This lesson is meant to illustrate how we can use these layers to discover the relative age of an object found in that layer by utilizing the Law of Superposition.
  • Dig It! (A Thematic Integrated Geology Unit) This lesson (2 parts) is an engaging way to strengthen student understanding of the Law of Superposition and evidence of Earth's changes over time. Students will excavate "fossils" from plastic tubs in class and then have the option of a larger outside excavation. The lesson not only supports science benchmarks but Math and Language Arts Standards as well and has an optional Social Studies extension. Materials are required but can be easily obtained and are reusable year after year. The more imagination you put into setting the context, the more powerful the lesson's outcome.

Original Student Tutorial

  • Hey Rock, How Old Are You? Learn how to identify sedimentary rock from other types of rock formations and use the Law of Superposition to determine the relative age of rock layers with this interactive tutorial.

Perspectives Video: Expert

Perspectives Video: Professional/Enthusiast

Perspectives Video: Teaching Idea

Text Resource

  • Seeking a Break in a 252 Million-Year-Old Mass Killing This informational text resource is intended to support reading in the content area. The text describes how scientists are attempting to use several pieces of evidence to pinpoint when a mass extinction event occurred at the end of the Permian Period. The text points to a connection between increasing volcanic eruptions, an increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and their relationship to mass extinctions before alluding to the signs of how human activity could be pushing Earth towards one.

Collections

STEM Lessons - Model Eliciting Activity

  • Radioactive Dating: Half-Life & Geologic Time In this Model Eliciting Activity (MEA), students must use their knowledge of radioactive dating and geologic time to select an effective elemental isotope to be used to date three rare specimens. This decision requires an understanding of the concept of a half-life and the benefits and limitations of radiometric dating. Students must complete mathematical calculations involving equations and operations with fractions and percentages. Students completing this MEA must develop two essays that respond in a professional manner to a client in the scientific industry. Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom.

Original Student Tutorials Science - Grades K-8

  • Hey Rock, How Old Are You? Learn how to identify sedimentary rock from other types of rock formations and use the Law of Superposition to determine the relative age of rock layers with this interactive tutorial.
Printed On: 6/18/2026 1:30:04 AM
Print Page | Close this window