Earth's Evolution - Timeline Game

Source:

Natural Leaders - Environmental Games and activities, by SNH & NTS, available from the National Trust for Scotland

Time

30 minutes

You will need

• A 50m  length of string or rope
• Marker pen and insulating tape
• A laminated copy of  'Stages of Earth's Evolution' (see downloads below)
• A blindfold
• 8 or more players

Did you know?

Scotland's oldest rocks, found in the Outer Hebrides and a thin strip along the west coast, were made an almost unimaginable 3 billion years ago. The standing stones at Callanish on Lewis are made of this ancient gneiss.

Before the activity

Prepare the Timeline by marking the stages onto the rope using 'flags' of insulating tape and labelling the flags with a permanent marker pen

The activity

This activity can be done anywhere in the outdoors - on a beach, school playing fields or whilst visiting an interesting geological site.

1. Place your 50 metre line along the ground. The line relates proportionately to the length of time the planet has been in existence i.e. 0 metres - Earth formed; 49.5 metres - humans beings evolved.
2. Spread 7-12 people at intervals along the line, and allocate a stage in evolution to each one.
3. The remaining participants take it in turns to walk slowly along the line wearing the blindfold. The players along the line, whisper the stage of evolution that they are at. The walkers experience a sense of  the planet evolving and the briefness of human existence.
4. Change roles so that all players have a turn at walking the Timeline
5. Finally, ask the group to walk along the line into the future, What do they see?

Suggested Follow up

Investigate the stages of geological time using the Scottish Geology website and the BBC Timeline for Life on Earth (see additional information below)

Visit Knockan Crag National Nature Reserve (see additional information and the 'Where to go' section) to experience first hand the clues and evidence that reveal the story of Scotland's amazing geological past.

Downloads

• Stages in Earth's Evolution
• Fun geology-based activity sheets

Additional Information

• Scottish Geology
• Knockan Crag National Nature Reserve
• Interactive evolutionary Timeline for life on Earth
• Advances series posters from SNH - Posters and teachers notes on landscapes and the natural heritage
• Landscapes fashioned by geology series - SNH Publications

Curriculum Links

science - main

Age Range

2,3,4