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Grade 8 Geologic Time & Earth's History Worksheet with Answers
Grade 8 (US) · Year 9 (UK) · Class 8 (India) · Science
Unit 5: Life & Earth Science ReviewEarth's History & SurfaceNGSS MS-ESS1-4
The geologic time scale, relative and absolute dating, and reading rock layers. This free middle school worksheet has 14 questions and a full answer key. Print it or save it as a PDF — every answer is checked by code, not guessed.
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Practice Sheetaethelsystems.comGeologic Time & Earth's History
Grade 8 · Science
Name
Class
Date
Learning goal: Earth's History & Surface · NGSS MS-ESS1-4
Directions: This worksheet has 2 parts. Read the instructions at the start of each part.
Label the diagram. Use the words in the box.
Word bank
- 1
- 2
- 3
Answer each question. Use full sentences where you can.
- 4
In which era did dinosaurs live?
- 5
What event likely ended the age of dinosaurs?
- 6
What is the law of superposition?
- 7
What is an index fossil?
- 8
What is the geologic time scale?
- 9
A fault cuts through three rock layers. Is the fault older or younger than the layers?
- 10
What is relative dating?
- 11
What is absolute (radiometric) dating?
- 12
Why are fossils of the same species found on different continents?
- 13
About how old is Earth?
- 14
Which era are we in now?
★ Challenge corner for fast finishers
Why do you see lightning before you hear thunder?
How did I do?
Teacher's comments
Free printable worksheets with answer keys · aethelsystems.com/worksheets/science/8/geologic_time
Answer key — Geologic Time & Earth's History (Grade 8)
- 1.youngest layer
- 2.oldest layer
- 3.fossil
- 4.the Mesozoic Era
- 5.an asteroid impact about 66 million years ago
- 6.in undisturbed rock layers, older layers are below younger ones
- 7.a fossil of an organism that lived briefly but widely, used to date rock layers
- 8.a timeline of Earth's history divided into eras and periods
- 9.younger
- 10.ordering rock layers or events from oldest to youngest
- 11.finding a rock's age in years using radioactive decay
- 12.the continents were once joined
- 13.about 4.6 billion years
- 14.the Cenozoic Era
- ★light travels much faster than sound
Answer key (click to show)
- 1.youngest layer
- 2.oldest layer
- 3.fossil
- 4.the Mesozoic Era
- 5.an asteroid impact about 66 million years ago
- 6.in undisturbed rock layers, older layers are below younger ones
- 7.a fossil of an organism that lived briefly but widely, used to date rock layers
- 8.a timeline of Earth's history divided into eras and periods
- 9.younger
- 10.ordering rock layers or events from oldest to youngest
- 11.finding a rock's age in years using radioactive decay
- 12.the continents were once joined
- 13.about 4.6 billion years
- 14.the Cenozoic Era
- ★light travels much faster than sound (challenge corner)
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