| Blank Outline of Earth's History PDF Worksheet |
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| www.studenthandouts.com > Science > Lower Elementary > Geology |
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Designed for use in the primary grades, this worksheet conveys a sense of geological time by having students complete an outline. The three geological eras are listed in chronological order, earliest to current. For each era—Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozioic—kids note the time frame, a description of the environment, and the era's notable living things. Click here to print. Answers will vary. Paleozoic Era (541-252 million years ago) Life exploded in the oceans at the start of this era. The environment was mostly warm, shallow seas covering the continents. Early on, life consisted of trilobites, squid-like nautiloids, and jawless fish. Later, huge ferns and early forests grew on land, and the air became rich with oxygen. Giant dragonflies flew through the swamps, and amphibians crawled onto land. The era ended with Earth's worst mass extinction, wiping out most marine life. Mesozoic Era (252-66 million years ago) Known as the "Age of Reptiles," the environment was generally hot and dry, with no polar ice caps. Pangea, the supercontinent, broke apart. This era is famous for dinosaurs ruling the land, while flying pterosaurs and marine reptiles like plesiosaurs dominated the skies and seas. Other notable living things included the first mammals (tiny shrew-like creatures), early birds, and the first flowering plants. It ended with an asteroid impact that caused a mass extinction. Cenozoic Era (66 million years ago-present) This is the "Age of Mammals." After the dinosaurs vanished, mammals took over. The environment changed greatly, with continents moving to their current spots and the climate cooling, leading to ice ages. Grasslands and savannas spread. Life included massive mammals like woolly mammoths and saber-toothed cats, along with early apes that eventually evolved into humans. Modern animals we know today, from whales to eagles, became common. |
| www.studenthandouts.com > Science > Lower Elementary > Geology |
