Clarification details
Updated August 2015. This document has been updated in its entirety to address new issues that have arisen from moderation.
To reach Achieved, students must:
- explain geological event(s)
- explain a range of evidence related to dating geological event(s).
The event(s) can be any geological event(s) in New Zealand or worldwide. The geological event(s) explained must reflect current geological knowledge of the chosen event.
Students are required to carry out an investigation to collect primary and/or secondary evidence. They will then use their findings to explain the geological event(s) and dating techniques for these event(s). These dating techniques can be the actual techniques that were used to give a stated date, or potential techniques that could be used to give a stated date. This may include a field trip to the site of the event(s).
Cross-correlation could come from a minimum of two dating methods or a single method incorporating multiple sites. Types of dating methods are suggested in Explanatory Note 3. The dating methods investigated must relate to the event(s) studied.
The critical component of this standard is the requirement of the student to report on a geological event (or events) in New Zealand or worldwide, and demonstrate understanding of how the event(s) are dated. This may include a combination of absolute ages and/or relative ages that reach an agreed final age of the event(s).
Information, research, experiments, videos, etc., may be supplied by the teacher, and can include primary and/or secondary information.