🪨 Part 1: Understanding Rock Strata

1. What is the Law of Superposition?

Older rock layers are found on top of younger layers

Younger rock layers are found on top of older layers

All rock layers are the same age

Rock layers have no relationship to age

2. How old is Earth according to scientific evidence?

4.6 million years old

4.6 billion years old

46 billion years old

460 million years old

3. Which of the following can be found in rock strata? (Check all that apply)

Fossils

Volcanic ash layers

Sediment deposits

Evidence of erosion

Meteorite impacts

🏗️ Part 2: Building Your Rock Strata Model

4. Draw and label your rock strata model in the box below. Include at least 4 different layers and label each with the geological event it represents.

5. List the geological events in your model from oldest to youngest (bottom to top):

6. Explain why you arranged your layers in this specific order:

🔍 Part 3: Analyzing Rock Layers

7. Fill in the blanks about geological time:

Rock strata act like _____________ in a history book, recording events over _____________ of years. Scientists use the _____________ time scale to organize Earth's history. The _____________ layers are found at the bottom, while the _____________ layers are found at the top.

8. Match each geological event with its most likely evidence in rock strata:

1. Volcanic eruption

2. Ancient ocean

3. Desert environment

4. Meteorite impact

A. Sand dune deposits

B. Ash layer

C. Marine fossils

D. Shocked minerals

🤔 Part 4: Critical Thinking About Earth's History

9. What challenges might scientists face when studying rock layers? (Check all that apply)

Layers might be folded or tilted

Some layers might be eroded away

Layers might be covered by newer rock

Fossils might be poorly preserved

Dating methods might be inaccurate

10. Explain how understanding rock strata helps scientists predict future geological events or find natural resources:

11. Besides rock layers, what other evidence do scientists use to understand Earth's past?

12. Using evidence from rock strata, write a scientific explanation for how the geological time scale helps organize Earth's 4.6-billion-year history: