Radiometric Dating of Rocks

Item description

Do your students have trouble getting their heads around the complex process of radiometric dating of rocks? Do terms like ‘half-life’ and ‘radioactive isotopes’ send them into a spin?

This resource begins with two detailed background information pages which use simple language – as well as clearly labelled and captioned diagrams – to explain how radiometric dating of rocks actually works AND how it compares to the stratigraphic method and use of index fossils to determine the age of rock strata. These pages are then followed by two handy, printable black-and-white Student Worksheets plus Answer Sheets.

Radiometric Dating of Rocks covers the following:

• difference between relative and absolute age

• the stratigraphic method of determining relative age of rock

• use of index fossils to determine relative age of rock

• how radiometric dating (based on the rates of decay of radioactive isotopes in igneous rock) can be used to determine absolute age of rock

• examples of radiometric dating methods: potassium-argon and carbon-14

Along with printable worksheets, a digital (PowerPoint) version of Radiometric Dating of Rocks is included here at no extra cost, giving teachers a choice as to which they prefer to use – taking into account the different learning styles of their students.

Radiometric Dating of Rocks is not just about answering questions. Your students will enjoy the ‘active’ nature of the tasks here, requiring them to:

• analyse diagrams

• label/add features to diagrams

• complete a simple line graph

• use simple PowerPoint tools to insert and format shapes (digital version)

Radiometric Dating of Rocks includes Answer Sheets with images in full colour that look great on the big screen and can be used to facilitate good class discussion. Answers provided are well detailed so there is no need to research or fact-check here; it’s all been done for you.

I hope you and your students find this product useful and that you enjoy using it as much as I enjoyed creating it!

Praise for Ariana’s Active Science & Biology worksheets:

“I used about 95% of the worksheets with my kids this year and it was a gem during remote learning. Honestly the best resource I’ve ever purchased” – Emma Palmer (via Facebook)

Ariana’s Active Science

This resource is for classroom only and not to be shared publicly. Copying for more than one teacher, department, school or district is prohibited, as is creating publicly accessible links. Failure to comply is an infringement of copyright.