Determining the Age of the Solar System

Abstract

This activity is designed for high school classrooms in an Earth science course.  It is a learning cycle activity that builds foundational knowledge of radiometric dating for dating the age of the Earth and solar system.  This learning activity is aligned to the Next Generation Science Standard (NGSS) HS-ESS1-6 "Apply scientific reasoning and evidence from ancient Earth materials, meteorites, and other planetary surfaces to construct an account of Earth’s formation and early history." Students will construct a radiometric dating curve then apply what they learned about dating curves to date three rocks and make a claim about the age of the Earth.

Level: High School
Setting: Classroom
Activity Type: Learning Cycle
Discipline: Earth Science or Astronomy
Course: Earth Science or Astronomy
Keywords: radiometric dating, dating curve, radioactive decay, element, isotope, age, rock, solar system