fandomhigh | Paleontology, Jan 18th (7th period)

"Sadly, today is going to be another boring lecture day," Tommy says, an apologetic look on his face as he gives everyone a handout. "We’re going to talk about the Geologic Time Scale today. Unfortunately? This only applies to Earth’s fossil record.

There are two ways of measuring geologic time:

Relative time (chronostratic)- subdivisions of the Earth's geology in a specific order based upon relative age relationships- most commonly, vertical/stratigraphic position. These subdivisions are given names, most of which can be recognized globally, usually on the basis of fossils.

Absolute time (chronometric)- numerical ages in "millions of years" or some other measurement. These are most commonly obtained via radiometric dating methods performed on appropriate rock types.

On the handout, you’ll see that relative time is divided first into eons, which are further divided into several eras, which in turn are composed of periods, which are composed of epochs."

After giving the lecture, Tommy looks around the classroom, hoping no one's fallen asleep. "Today's discussion questions... what period would you most likely find fossils of mammals? Or dinosaurs? What kind of fossils were found in the earliest periods?"

"For your homework, I’m assigning you each a period on the geologic time scale. I’d like you to find a picture of a fossil from that time period, and hand that in along with a short description of what it is that you found. And, once again, anyone who wants to present on Monday is welcome to do so."

1. Janet Fraiser - Neogene
2. Molly Hayes - Cretaceous
3. Rory Gilmore - Permian
4. Charlie Kawalsky - Triassic
5. Yuffie Kisaragi - Jurassic
6. Rose Tyler - Paleogene
7. Sharon Valerii - Carboniferous

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Sign on the dotted line!

Kawalsky finished his pear and then signed in.

Janet Frasier signed in. Though she occasionally looped a letter below the dotted line. Oops.

Rory signed in and sat in the very front ~~so she could observe the smart doctor glasses more closely~~.

Janet certainly didn't join in on observing the smart doctor glasses with Rory. Because smart doctor glasses did nothing for her. Really.

Molly signed in.

Janet slipped Molly a note. I've found some good paleontology books at the library if you want to stop by tomorrow.

Molly read the note. She smiled at Janet and gave her a small nod to indicate that she would do so.

Signing in with care, Sharon took a seat and listened attentively to the lecture. It wasn't at all true that the notes she took contained little hearts with things like "I love Helo" or "Chief Rox" in them. Really.

Rose signs in.

Answer the questions, ask questions, talk amongst yourselves...

"I guess you'd find mammals in the later periods, after the dinosaurs died out because then there were more of them. Dinosaurs were in the jurassic if that dinosaur movies were right. Maybe a bit earlier. Back in the earlier times before dinosaurs, I guess there'd be smaller stuff. Reptiles, maybe frogs and stuff." He scratched at his forehead. "Is that right?"

"Fish, maybe?" asked Janet, ask she flipped through a book looking for information on her assigned era. "I think I saw somewhere in here that it says most of the Earth was covered by ocean."

"Sharks definitely," Rory agreed. "They're some of the oldest animals on the planet, and they've barely evolved."

"I doubt they needed to," said Janet.

"Bugs," Molly said. "There have always been bugs, haven't there?" She gave a small shudder in discomfort.

Sharon made a face. And looked hopeful. "What they said? Also, crustaceans, amoebas and one-celled organisms living in the oceans?"

Turn in the current assignment here if you don't want to wait till Monday.

The Paleogene period is the time when mammals evolved from small, simple forms into diverse animals in the wake of the mass extinction that ended the preceding Cretaceous Period.

This is one of the marine animals from that period. (http://www.3d-fossils.com/photos/fossils/dapalis.jpg)

If it's needed.

Just in case, yo.

Paleontology, Jan 18th (7th period)

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Homework!

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After Class!

OOC!