List of time periods

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/list-of-time-periods

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

List of time periods. Small Whale. https://smallwhale.org/articles/list-of-time-periods. Accessed 2026-09-23. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is periodization and why is it important?Periodization is the act of dividing time into named blocks. It helps us put order on events so we can see patterns and understand how things change.
2. How do scientists divide Earth's history?Scientists use the geologic time scale, which splits Earth's past into eons, eras, periods, epochs, and ages based on big geological events and life changes.

Periodization: The conceptual and methodological division of historical or geological time into named segments.
Prehistory: The temporal span preceding the invention and use of writing systems by human societies.
Three-Age System: An archaeological framework that classifies human prehistory into Stone, Bronze, and Iron Ages based on tool materials.
Holocene Epoch: The current geological epoch, characterized by relatively stable climatic conditions following the last glacial period.