The First Presentation of the Time Line of Life

Age
7-8.

Materials
The Time Line materials:


 * Colored chart, blank chart, loose pictures, labels.
 * Elastic strip which is the circumference of the Clock of Eras.
 * Clock of Eras chart
 * The Body functions of the Vertebrates
 * If possible, pictures of the environments of each period for animals and plants.

Presentation

 * 1) Repeat the three period lesson for the clock of Eras., recalling the meaning of the names of the last four periods.
 * 2) Using an elastic strip which is a linear Clock of Eras, pick up the linear Clock.
 * 3) " This is the clock as a line. Notice the colors are the same as the clock - but if I stretch out the last 4 colors, it will be the same as the top of the big time line."
 * 4) Notice that the colors along the top row are the same, and in the same order as the colors on the strip and the Clock.
 * 5) Recall the names of the Eras on the top row.
 * 6) Scientists have studied the history of the earth for thousands of years.
 * 7) They have found the remnants of life on earth through crude discovery and now, with sophisticated instruments.
 * 8) They have developed a time line of the life which has left its mark on the earth.
 * 9) This is a chart of many of the life forms which have been found.
 * 10) The name of each periods reflect the history of these scientists' discoveries.
 * 11) Read the name of each age mentioned in the second row, recalling the meaning of the name, i.e. amphibians and locating these animals in the Classification or Body Function cards.
 * 12) Observe that the order follows the same direction on the time line and the classification charts.
 * 13) Observe that the order follows the same direction on the time line and the Classification or Body Function Cards.
 * 14) The child should be able to give simple descriptions for the characteristics of each vertebrate class.
 * 15) NOTE: birds are on the time line, but there is no time where they dominated the earth.
 * 16) Notice the great icicles. Theses are glacial periods.
 * 17) During these times, a great part of the land was covered with ice.
 * 18) Before and after these periods, the earth was very warm.
 * 19) The triangular shape of the icicles show that the coldness increased gradually.
 * 20) At the vertex of the icicle, it was the coldest time, then it decreased.
 * 21) Notice the red lines and their paths.
 * 22) Some of them start and the beginning, rise and fall.
 * 23) Some of them are continuous until the end.
 * 24) These lines indicate the appearance of animals on earth.
 * 25) The highest point is the time of their height of population and dominance.
 * 26) Their end points is when they became extinct for whatever reason.
 * 27) It is possible to study earth history through the rise and fall of mountains.
 * 28) Mountains have not always been here. They usually developed slowly and then gradually eroded and became flattened over millions of years.
 * 29) The Rockies, Alps, Himalayas and others are among the last to appear on earth.
 * 30) They are being flattened so slowly that we wouldn't notice the change in our lifetimes.
 * 31) Give three period lesson to check comprehension.

Purpose

 * A general presentation of the time line, relating it to the previous material: The Clock of Eras.

Variation
The child can label the eras, the mountains and ice ages.

The child can write their names or draw (especially later when animals are presented).