Making a Timeline of the History of Life on Earth

Purpose: To create a model of the entire history of the Earth, showing the history of life.

Introduction: We are going to make a scale model of Earth’s history in the form of a 6 metre
long paper tape. A scale model means that the timeline accurately presents different lengths of
time. All of the times that we are going to deal with in this lab are in millions of years ago
(mya). To figure out the lengths that we need in this lab use the following equation:

Distance from ‘today’ on timeline age of event (mya)

=
Length of whole timeline age of earth (mya)

Put in the numbers we need

Distance age of event (mya)
=
600 cm 4600 mya

Here’s an example of how to work out where you place an event on the timeline.
Event: Dinosaurs were abundant
Age of event: 150 mya
Calculation: Distance from ‘today’ on the timeline (D) 150 (mya)

600 cm 4600 (mya)

D = 150 X 600
= approx. 19.6 cms from ‘Today?
4600

Equipment:
Scissors
Glue
Tape measure
Paper
Coloured pencils

Procedure:
Work in groups of 2 or 3, no more.
1. You will need to cut and stick together strips of paper, about 4 cm wide, to create a tape of 6
meters in length.
2. Lay it on the floor so that it is all of the way open.
3. Label (in small letters) at one end: Formation of Earth and at the other end: Today.
4. All of our times are in millions of years ago, so we will MAKE EVERY MEASUREMENT
from the end that says TODAY.
5. The first step will be to place the four Eras on the timeline. Use the equation to label where
on the timeline you will mark the beginning and end of each era.
6. Label the events (Use one line, and label one side end of one Era, and beginning of another)
Example:

7. VERY LIGHTLY colour each era. You will need to write more in here later so don’t make it
too darkly coloured.
8. Next, using the same equation, you need to place the following important events on the
timeline.
9. Next add the following events or organisms to your timeline. You will need to research a date
for each event or organism, using the internet or the Earth History sheets.

10. Figure out how old each event or organism is, and use the same equation to figure out where
they go on your timeline.
11. Glue or tape the fossil to your timeline in the appropriate location.
12. Write your names on the front of the tape and hang it across the room.

Some questions - if there is time

1. What percent of the timeline falls in the Precambrian Era?

2. What percent of the Earth’s history has man been in existence?

3. What percent of the Earth’s history has there been abundant fossils?

4. The universe is about 15 billion years old (15000 million). What percentage of THAT time
has the Earth been in existence?

5. Use the equation from the beginning to calculate how much space on the timeline would you
have to go back to mark where the Declaration of Independence was signed, and the United
States formed as a country.