Earths tectonic activity may be crucial for lifeand rare. The key then to explaining how convection cells drive plate tectonics is to keep it simple. Tectonic plates which divide earths crust and reshape our planet in an ongoing, dynamic process may be the key to supporting life. The plate tectonics mapping activity allows students to easily begin to identify basic tectonic processes on a global scale. Desired results established goals standards njcccs 5. As students work through simple questions on the activity sheet, they are then able to start the more challenging process of understanding the patterns and process that make up the fundamental principles of plate tectonics. Earths tectonic activity may be crucial for lifeand. Tes global ltd is registered in england company no 02017289 with its registered office at 26 red lion square london wc1r 4hq. Plate tectonics the earths crust is divided into plates which are moved in various directions. How would solid material accomodate movement in this solid body. It represents a scientific revolution as significant to geology as relativity was to physics.
Extension activities for plate tectonics plate tectonics. It explains why earthquakes, volcanoes and mountain ranges are where they are. Plate tectonics information and facts national geographic. Create a piece of art model, sculpture, painting, drawing on plate tectonics and include a 5 paragraph explanation of your art. Subduction processes during plate convergence result in the formation of volcanoes. Learn plate tectonics with free interactive flashcards. Plate tectonics distance to the epicenter is determined by comparing the arrival times and the e. The maps are also offered without tectonic boundaries to be. These assignments were used in an introductory physical geology. The ages of the oldest rocks found in the lettered parts of the continents are listed below. This activity requires students to explore a range of datasets that help substantiate plate tectonic theory. Discuss with them how europe, africa, south america, and north america might fit together as puzzle pieces. The plate tectonics gizmo shows a crosssection, or side view, of earth. Plate tectonics is a geological theory that explains the phenomenon of continental drift.
Plate tectonics geology 111 geology department vancouver island university 91 plate tectonics exercises overview. In this activity, ocean plates are represented by fruit roll ups and continental crust is represented by graham crackers. Plate tectonics describes the distribution and motion of the plates. Using the online resources at the earthquakes living lab, students examine information and gather evidence supporting the theory. Do matching parts of the two continents have rocks of the same maximum age. Print out the game and laminate it then get pupils to make their way to the centre of the earth. Exploring the movement of tectonic plates with smores. Plate tectonics the tectonic plates of the world were mapped in the second half of the 20th century. Plate tectonics is the key that unlocks many of the mysteries of our amazing planet. Plate tectonics, volcanism, and the structure of the earth. The rocks in region f have not been analyzed yet, so their age has not been determined. The discussion questions in the activity are provided as a resource for teachers to engage students growing understanding. Plate tectonics is a combination of three earlier ideas, isostacy, continental drift, and seafloor spreading.
You will need to make copies of station pages and task cards as well as gather the materials for station 2 and also two laptopscomputerstablets with sound. Read the text about plate tectonics and find 10 grammatical or spelling mistakes. The ensuing theory, known as plate tectonics, has had a major impact on earth sciences. This plate motion causes them to collide, pull apart, or scrape against each other. Foam model plate tectonics this lesson plan gives students a demonstration to visualize the concept of plate tectonics. Each type of interaction causes a characteristic set of earth structures or tectonic features.
Teaching plate tectonics with easytodraw illustrations next time you teach plate tectonics, consider a drawwithme presentation that will engage your students and help them understand the spatial and movement aspects of plate boundary environments. To further introduce the students to plates, their movements, and the history behind it. They also look at how volcanoes and earthquakes are explained by tectonic plate movement, and how engineers use this information. Using easytodraw illustrations to teach about plate. Jul 20, 2017 earths tectonic activity may be crucial for lifeand rare in our galaxy a new study finds plate tectonics may be hard to sustain on exoplanets by shannon hall on july 20, 2017. The theory encompasses the older concepts of continental drift, developed. Working in pairs, students think like engineers and connect what they. Call on volunteers to tell what they know about plate tectonics.
This activity will give a brief overview of the theory of continental drift and pangaea. In this timeline skills game, students show their knowledge of plate tectonics by following context clues to order events and win artifacts. Students gather evidence to explain the theory of plate tectonics. Types of plate boundaries map identification activity. The theory of plate tectonics grew out of earlier hypotheses and observations collected during exploration of the rocks of the ocean floor. Students will discuss the properties of the earths crust and plate tectonics. Plate tectonics plates and their consequences grade.
Petersburg this activity seeks to have students analyze global data sets on earthquake and volcano distributions toward identifying major plate boundary types in different regions on the earth. Plate tectonics this plate tectonics lesson plan involves a classroom activity to help students understand the processes that move and shape earths surface. Continental crust oceanic crust oceanic crust alaska. Understanding that the plates have moved through time and are still moving. Choose from 500 different sets of plate tectonics flashcards on quizlet. Using easytodraw illustrations to teach about plate tectoncis. Going for great active learning teaching ideas see more ideas about plate tectonics, earth science and teaching science. The plates make up earths outer shell, called the lithosphere. Worksheet of the plate tectonic theory demystifying scientific data. Jun 20, 2014 this website and its content is subject to our terms and conditions. To explain the theory of plate tectonics and present the information in a creative format. The theory of plate tectonics explains most of the features of earths surface. The theory of plate tectonics describes how the plates move, interact, and change the physical landscape. According to the theory, the earths crust is made up of continental and oceanic plates, which move across the surface of the planet, meeting at plate boundaries.
Do not put more than two in a group students or pairs will need coloring pencils, the types of plate boundaries map and the types of plate boundaries map identification directions. Exploring inside the earthgeologists have used twomain types of evidence tolearn about earthsinterior. The diagram shows a cross section with two subduction zones, a spreading ridge, and a continental rift. You will recall from a previous chapter that there are three. Identify, label, and describe each type of plate boundary for their countrys tectonic plate. Plate tectonics stations activity for high school earth science. Earths tectonic activity may be crucial for lifeand rare in our galaxy a new study finds plate tectonics may be hard to sustain on exoplanets by shannon hall on july 20, 2017. Plate tectonics cause volcanic activity, mountainbuilding. This exercise examines the ideas of continental drift and of sea floor spreading that lead to the theory of plate tectonics.
This activity is a slight variation on an original activity, discovering plate boundaries, developed by dale sawyer at rice university. Plate tectonics activity the purpose of this lab is to introduce the concept of plate tectonics and the formation of mountains. Name class period plate tectonics project 110eptsj objective. Plate tectonics activity michigan state university. Isostacy states that the lithosphere the crust and upper, solid mantle floats on. Students investigate plate tectonic environments convergent, divergent, transform boundaries, topographybathymetry of continents and ocean basins, the distribution and pattern of earthquakes, the distribution of volcanoes, as well as. Create miniature convection cells within a desktop flow chamber so that students can see firsthand how convection cells are created and how they work. From wikipedia, the free encyclopedia plate tectonics from greek, tekton builder or mason describes the large scale motions of earths lithosphere. Types of plate boundaries map identification activity directions. Lithosphere is divided into plates that slide around on top of the slowly moving mesosphere tectonic plates it occurred after the breakup of pangaea, and since then the continents. Disclaimer and safety precautions provides the science fair project ideas for informational purposes only. You will need copies of student note page for each students. Plate tectonics exercises vancouver island university. Note the two zones where an oceanic plate is being subducted plunged under another plate.
This classroom activity can be used to introduce or expand plate tectonics for elementary, secondary, middle school, and university level students. Name and draw the boundary of the tectonic plate on which their country rests. Plate tectonics stations activity for high school earth. Isostacy states that the lithosphere the crust and upper, solid mantle floats on the asthenosphere the plasticslowly flowing mantle. The process of drawing a picture involves students much more deeply than reading or discussion. Plate tectonics as expressed in geological landforms and events jeff ryan, university of south floridast. This lesson plan is useful for elementary, secondary, middle school, and university students. The structure of the earth, plate tectonics and landforms. Crust mantle core crust lithosphere plate movement the crust is broken into plates that move. Movements deep within the earth, which carry heat from the hot interior to the cooler surface, cause the plates to move very slowly on the surface, about 2 inches per year on average. Introduce students to the concept of continental movement and plate tectonics.
At plate boundaries, plates collide, move apart, move under or over each other, or slide past one another. Volcanoes are common in a zone that is located a certain distance away from the trench where the subducted. Students will use clay to model different types of crust and plate activity. This activity will help lay the foundation for the 8th grade teks 8. I made different maps, including more detail in all of the datasets, and used a different map projection, but otherwise the general progression of the activity is the same. Surface observations and seismic waves showed that the earths interior was solid.
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