Activity

Which dating method?

In this activity, students learn to recognise some of the different relative and absolute dating methods that are referred to throughout the Science Learning Hub website.

Sediment core tour

Dr Marcus Vandergoes, of GNS Science, takes you on a tour of a sediment core from glacial and interglacial deposits near the Southern Alps. He explains the different environments that organic and inorganic layers represent and which layers are suitable for different dating methods. A layer of volcanic ash, dated to 27,000 years ago, provides a tie-in for relative dating.

Rights: University of Waikato

By the end of this activity, students should be able to:

  • read and comprehend a variety of science texts

  • recognise and distinguish between relative and absolute dating methods

  • realise that dating is important in several fields of science

  • use the Science Learning Hub as a research tool.

Download the Word file (see link below) for:

  • introduction/background notes

  • what you need

  • what to do

  • discussion questions

  • student worksheets.

Nature of science

When there is a wide range of measurement methods available, scientists need to choose the best one to suit their material and situation.

Related content

Read more about relative and absolute dating methods.

Activity ideas

Help your students understand more about dating methods with these other activities:

Published:18 May 2011