US Geological Survey
Index Fossils
If you need examples of index fossils for each of the geologic eras and periods, than this resource is for you. Diagrams of the index fossils and their scientific names are also provided.
Science Struck
Science Struck: The Meaning of Index Fossils Explained
Explains the importance of index fossils for the dating and chronology of events in the fossil and geological records. Discusses uses and examples of index fossils in the Cenozoic, Mesozoic, and Paleozoic Eras.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: Earth History and Clues From Fossils
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] How scientists can learn information about the past from fossils.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: Earth History and Clues From Fossils
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] How scientists can learn information about the past from fossils.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: Earth History and Clues From Fossils
How scientists can learn information about the past from fossils. [Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.]
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Life Science: 4.4 Fossils
Understand fossils and the fossil record as it relates to Earth's history.
Mocomi & Anibrain Digital Technologies
Mocomi: Carbon Dating
How do we know how old a fossil is? We use carbon, as every living being has carbon. Carbon dating, also known as radiocarbon dating, is a method of estimating the age of carbon-bearing materials up to 60,000 years old. Scroll through to...
American Institute of Biological Sciences
Action Bioscience: Accuracy of Fossils and Dating Methods
Discover the accuracy of dating methods and fossils because of the scientific approach used.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: American Field Guide: Relative Dating Telling Time Using Fossils
This website integrates video footage and information with lesson plans and activities to teach students about the concept of relative dating. Students will graph a range chart for ammonites, determine the geologic age for several rocks,...
Science4Fun
Science4 Fun: Fossils
What is a fossil? Find out how fossils are formed, where fossils are found, and dating a fossil.
American Geosciences Institute
American Geological Institute: Evolution and the Fossil Record
The American Geological Institute has done an excellent job of defining and explaining evolution in this online booklet. Darwin, fossils, natural selection, and change over time are some of the concepts that are covered. Make sure to see...
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Biology: History of Life
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Describes how scientists learn about the past by examining and dating fossils.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Biology: History of Life
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] This comprehensive lesson by CK-12 explains how scientists learn about the past by examining and dating fossils.
US Geological Survey
Usgs: Geologic Time
This large U.S. Geological Survey site offers a look at the age of the earth, how radiometric dating is used to calculate it, the major divisions of geologic time, and the classification and use of fossils.
Estrella Mountain Community College
Online Biology Book: Paleobiology: Fossils and Time
Find out how fossil evidence has been the major link to learning about Earth's geologic history. See several illustrated interpretations of a geologic time scale in this online biology textbook.
McGraw Hill
Mc Grawl Hill: Dino Dig
A virtual lab allows you to do radiometric dating on dinosaur bones. You'll be using a mass spectrometer and utilizing several steps of the scientific method.
Other
Western Oregon University: Earth System Science: Geologic Time [Pdf]
An 81-page slideshow that looks at the principles of geology with respect to relative dating, at different concepts describing geological processes, at absolute age and radiometric dating, at the eons and eras in the geologic time scale,...
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Chaco Canyon: Observation: How Old Is It?
How is time read on the stone of the Chaco Canyon? Find out systems geologists have for dating rocks and fossils.
Other
Planetary Society: Relative and Absolute Ages in Histories of Earth and the Moon
A lengthy scholarly article that discusses the geologic time scale, its history of development, age-dating events that occurred in different eras, and how absolute and relative dating are used to assess the ages of the Earth and Moon....
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating the Geologic Time Scale: Trends in Geologic Time
In this Earth Science indoor laboratory inquiry, students will create their own geologic time scale based on observation of teacher supplied, historically correct fossil data and also relevant rock samples with the age of the rock sample...
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Episd: History of Life
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Students will explore ways to study the past to learn about the history of life. Understand how fossils, DNA analysis, and molecular clock help researchers study...
Northern Arizona University
Land Use History of North America: Fossil Pollen (Palynology)
Use this site to learn why fossil pollen is a useful tool for determining paleoclimates.
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: Historical Geology
In this interactive tutorial you will explore how geologists use clues in rocks to determine the order in which rocks formed. Learn how principles of radioactivity are used to assign actual ages to rocks. Students will explore fossils...
US Geological Survey
Relative Time Scale
This is a good resource for anyone who wants to understand the historical development that led to our understanding of relative dating. This site also has links to index fossils and a table of geologic time.