Name
Date
Key Concept Builder
Class
LESSON 1: Use purple text pages 363-367
Geologic History
Key Concept How was the geologic time scale developed?
Directions: On each line, write the term from the word bank that correctly completes each sentence. Each term
is used only once.
epochs
eras
fossils
Mesozoic
Paleozoic
Periods
Phanerozoic
Triassic
1. Divisions in the geologic time scale
were developed based on differences
p. 364
in the
in different rock layers.
2. Eons, the longest unit of geologic time,
are subdivided into
363
.
3. Periods are subdivided into
363
.
4. Jurassic and the Ordovician are examples
of geologic
363
.
5. The Cretaceous period is part of the
363
era.
6. The Cambrian period is part of the
363
era.
7. The Mesozoic era includes the
363
period.
8. The
eon
363
includes the Quaternary period.
16
Geologic Time
Name
Date
Key Concept Builder
Class
LESSON 2: Use purple text pgs 371-375
The Paleozoic Era
Key Concept What major geologic events occurred during the Paleozoic era?
Directions: Answer each question on the lines provided
Early Paleozoic
1. Which age is this time known as? p.371
2. What was the climate like? 372
3. What happened to the seas during this time? 372
4. What two things resulted from this change in sea level? 372
5. Where was North America located? p.372
6. Where did animal life exist? 372
7. Which type of animals existed? 371
Middle Paleozoic
8. Which age is this time known as? p.373
9. What happened between moving continents? 373
10. What was created from this movement? 373
11. Which type of animals further evolved in the seas? 373
12. Which type of animals evolved on land? 373
Late Paleozoic
13. Which age is this time known as? p.374
14. What was the climate like near the end of this time? 375
15. What landmass formed during this time? 375
16. Which type of animals evolved on land toward the end of this time? 374
17. What happened to 70 percent of all life-forms on land at the end of this time? 375
34
Geologic Time
Name
Date
Content Practice A
Class
LESSON 3: Use purple text pages 379-383
The Mesozoic Era
251 mya
• Mesozoic era
begins.
• Pangaea begins
to break apart.
• Ocean water
flows onto
continents.
• Inland seas
• Flowering
plants appear.
• Dinosaurs
become the
dominant
reptile.
form.
• Two continents
form—Late
Triassic.
• Mammals
evolve.
65.5 mya
• A meteorite hits
Earth.
• Volcanoes erupt.
• A mass
extinction
occurs.
Directions: Use the diagram to answer each question.
1. How long ago did the Mesozoic era begin? p. 379
2. What happened to Pangaea? 379
3. What happened as the ocean waters rose higher? 380
4. Which life-forms evolved during the Mesozoic era? 382
5. Which reptile was dominant during the Mesozoic era? 382
6. Which event marks the end of the Mesozoic era? 383
7. What do scientists hypothesize led to the mass extinction? 383
Geologic Time
4
Name
Date
Key Concept Builder
Class
LESSON 4: Use purple book pp. 386-393
The Cenozoic Era
Key Concept What major geologic events occurred during the Cenozoic era?
Eon
Era
Period
Epoch Start Date (mya)
Neogene
Tertiary
Cenozoic
Phanerozoic
Quaternary
Paleogene
Holocene
0.01
Pleistocene
1.64
Pliocene
5.2
Miocene
23.3
Oligocene
35.4
Eocene
56.5
Paleocene
65.5
Directions: Put a check mark in the space that correctly identifies when each geologic event occurred.
Note: You may have to refer back to Fig. 21 on pp. 388-389 to
confirm a few answers.
1. India crashes into Asia.
Tertiary
Period
p. 388
2. The climate begins to cool.
389
3. Glaciers cover 30 percent of Earth’s land surface.
389
4. The Alps form.
388
5. Glaciers advance and retreat several times.
389
6. Antarctica links Australia to South America.
Fig. 21 & 391
7. The Himalayas form.
388
8. The Sierra Nevadas form.
388
9. Forests replace grasses.
Fig. 21 & 392
10. The climate is warm and drier.
392
11. Ice covers poles during the Pliocene epoch.
389
12. Inland seas that had covered the land drain away.
389
13. Australia is located near India.
14. Africa pushes into Europe.
72
Quaternary
Period
Fig. 21 & 391
388
Geologic Time