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Earth History Exploration

This worksheet covers key concepts in Earth's history, including the geologic time scale, fossils, and major events that shaped our planet.

Grade 8 Science Earth & Space ScienceEarth History
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Includes

Multiple ChoiceFill in the Blanks2 Short AnswerTrue / FalseMatching

Standards

MS-ESS1-4MS-LS4-1

Topics

Earth HistoryGeologic TimeFossilsScienceGrade 8
8 sections · Free to use · Printable
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Earth History Exploration

Name:

Date:

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Read each question carefully and answer to the best of your ability. Use complete sentences when required.

1. Which of the following represents the longest division of geologic time?

a

Epoch

b

Period

c

Era

d

Eon

2. The early Earth's atmosphere lacked free  , which was produced later by early photosynthetic organisms.

3. The formation of the Earth and other planets is thought to have occurred about   billion years ago.

4. Describe two different ways in which fossils can form.

Fossils from Cretaceous age

5. The Mesozoic Era is known as the 'Age of Mammals'.

T

True

F

False

Match each term on the left with its definition on the right.

6. Relative Dating

 

a. Determining the precise age of a rock or fossil.

7. Absolute Dating

 

b. Determining if one rock or fossil is older than another.

8. Index Fossil

 

c. A fossil used to define and identify geologic periods.

9. Explain the theory of plate tectonics and how it contributes to Earth's changing surface over geologic time.