Rock Layers & Relative Dating
Understand that rock layers (strata) form in sequence with the oldest at the bottom and the youngest at the top, and that fossils found in deeper layers are older — this is the principle of relative dating
Typical age: 9–11 years
“If your child saw a cliff with layers of rock, could they explain that the bottom layers are the oldest and that fossils found deeper down lived longer ago?”
0 / 3 mastered
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Needs first
- How Fossils FormREQUIRED
Must understand fossil formation in sediment before understanding rock layer sequencing
- Types of Rock
Dinosaurs rock strata/relative dating benefits from knowing rock types (igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic)
- Properties of materials
Understanding rock classification (sedimentary/igneous/metamorphic) helps understand strata and relative dating
- The Mesozoic Era
Understanding geological periods helps contextualise the strata timeline