These plates ride on the hot plastic upper mantle called the asthenosphere. Plate tectonics describes the distribution and motion of the plates. Introduction to plate tectonics and earthquakes lesson plans. In our experiment, the upper cookie will represent the lithosphere, the creamy filling the asthenosphere, and the lower cookie the lower mantle. This lesson plan is useful for elementary, secondary, middle school, and university students. Fossils tell us when and where plants and animals once existed. A plate tectonic puzzle introduction the earths crust is not a solid shell. Based on the pace of your course, you may need to adapt the lesson plan to fit your needs. You will recall from a previous chapter that there are three.
Model the structural layers of the earth, investigate the data that led to the theory of plate tectonics, and discover the relationship between plate tectonics and earthquakes, volcanos, and mountains, through data analysis and handson activities. Boundaries have different names depending on how the two plates are moving in relationship to each other. Plates and their consequences 8th grade alexander sernawallender. Edible plate tectonics page 1 focus on inquiry the student will use food to model and observe the plate movement and consequences of plate movement associated with the theory of plate tectonics. Scientists now have a fairly good understanding of how the plates move and how such movements relate to earthquake activity. A major geological system is the tectonic system that involves the movement of lithospheric plates. Tectonic plates jigsaw puzzle 1 tectonic plates jigsaw puzzle instructions for teachers 1.
Lightly shade in each tectoniclithospheric plate with a different color if possible. They move atop the underlying mantle, a really thick layer of hot flowing rock. Print the jigsaw puzzle pages, at either a4 or a3 size, in colour and singlesided. Continental drift, sea floor spreading and plate tectonics plate tectonics is a theory developed in the late 1960s, to explain how the outer layers of the earth move and deform. Plate tectonics passport activity booklet the geological society. Each type of interaction causes a characteristic set of earth structures or tectonic features.
This world map of tectonic plates is a twopage pdf suitable for printing on legalsize 8. An earthquake is what happens when two tectonic plates suddenly slip past one another. The outermost layer is hard and surrounds the earth like a shell, this is called the crust. Locations of earthquakes and volcanoes show the plate boundaries and ocean floor features.
Plate tectonics is the theory that explains how large pieces of the earths outermost layer, called tectonic plates, move and change shape. In this activity, students turn a map of the earth into puzzle pieces to investigate tectonic plates. By the end of this activity, students should be able to. The plate tectonics mapping activity allows students to easily begin to identify basic tectonic processes on a global scale. They never really separate because magma continuously moves up from the mantle into this boundary. The mantle can flow like a liquid if its hot enough and has enough pressure.
This theory also says that most of these plates are in motion, creating. Mapping world plates helps students connect topography, earthquakes, volcanoes, and plates. This plate motion causes them to collide, pull apart, or scrape against each other. Subduction processes during plate convergence result in the formation of volcanoes. Types of plate boundaries map identification directions a 1. The paper includes a word box to help students complete the story about the earths plates. The activity uses a simple wheres waldo approach to identify tectonic.
The mantle contains hot molten rock magma heated by energy from the earths core. If the plates continue to move in this pattern, draw a sketch of what the world might look like 250. An introduction, mountain maker, earth shaker, plate tectonics. Convergence data are shown by arrows describing direction and speed, relative to the plate across the boundary. As students become aware of plate movements, they begin to identify patterns that set the stage for deeper understanding of a very complex topic. It is made up of thick, interconnecting pieces called tectonic plates that fit.
Tectonic plate boundaries activity and worksheetin this activity, students must use their knowledge and understanding of plate tectonics and identify and label each of the correct tectonic plate boundaries. In 1967, mckenzie and parker suggested the theory of plate tectonics. Tectonic plates are sections of the earths solid crust that float on top of the mantle. According to the theory of plate tectonics, the earths crust is divided into plates that are continually moving either towards or away from each other. Use the table below to draw arrows indicating the direction of plate movement at each boundary. Tectonic plates california institute of technology. Plate tectonics and volcanic activity national geographic. Tectonic plates move atop the underlying mantle, a really thick layer of hot flowing rock. As they move, plates interact at their edges or boundaries. Earths crust is cracked into big pieces called tectonic plates. Some life rode on diverging plates, became isolated, and evolved into new species. A plate tectonic puzzle american museum of natural history. Closely spaced earthquakes with a range of depths that deepen i.
At a divergent boundary, tectonic plates move apart from one another. Our summer travels led us to several volcanoes so naturally my kiddos were. By examining evidence such as similar rock layers in various places, fossilized desert belts, the distribution of fossils, and the physical shapes of continents, scientists have concluded that the earths. Tetrahedron map by ngsdc paste scissors crayons background. After doing so, students are expected explain, in sentence form, what processes are occurri. Convergent boundaries destructive are where plates are moving towards each other. Plate tectonics webquest rich township high school. Other life dispersed to new areas as continents reconnected, oceans narrowed, or chains of volcanic islands formed. The reason for this geologic activity is that indonesia is located at the junction of. Page two is the world digital elevation model showing topography without plate boundaries or plates labeled. This activity is a slight variation on an original activity, discovering plate boundaries, developed by dale sawyer at rice university.
Gather evidence to explain the theory of plate tectonics. The earths crust is made up of seven main tectonic plates and numerous smaller plates. 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. Navigate back to the earthquakes living lab main page and click on the second and fourth links titled, what is the theory of plate tectonics. Ocean basins are shown in gray, with approximate ages of oceanic lithosphere indicated. Guess the location of the midatlantic ridge then check your answer with the teacher. The plates, composed of earths crust and uppermost mantle, ride on a warmer, softer layer of the mantle, called the asthenosphere.
Below is a sample breakdown of the plate tectonics chapter into a 5day school week. The plates move seemingly independently, which indicates that the system is dynamic, i. Graham cracker plate tectonics lab just a little info the theory of plate tectonics states that the crust of the earth is composed of seven major plates and numerous smaller plates. Plate tectonics it was from the continental drift theory, convection current theory and the theory of seafloor spreading, the theory of plate tectonics was formulated. Dec 17, 2019 plate tectonics it was from the continental drift theory, convection current theory and the theory of seafloor spreading, the theory of plate tectonics was formulated. Page one is the world map of tectonic plates with plate boundaries labeled and named.
Plate tectonics information and facts national geographic. It is made up of thick, interconnecting pieces called tectonic plates that fit together like a puzzle. This is a fun activity that helps students understand the fundamentals of shifting plates and how these shifts in the earths core affect the earths crust. Oct 30, 2014 the two types of plate boundaries that are most likely to produce volcanic activity are divergent plate boundaries and convergent plate boundaries. Lithosphere is divided into plates that slide around on top of the slowly moving mesosphere tectonic plates it occurred after the breakup of. Since the development of the theory, geologists have had to reexamine almost every aspect of. According to the theory of plate tectonics, the earths lithosphere is broken into distinct plates which are. Plate convergence vectors referenced from united states geological survey. This quick and tasty kids science activity gives little scientists a hands on way to explore plate tectonics the movement of the earths crust that leads to the formation of volcanoes, mountains, and oceanic trenches. 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.
Summaries of each tectonic site and answers to passport questions and are found in slides 1019. Types of plate boundaries map identification activity. Puzzle of the plates focus plate tectonics grade level 56 physical science focus question how do tectonic plates move, and what are the consequences of these movements. A3 size is recommended as the puzzle is big enough to cut out relatively easily and will still fit on a student desk.
The theory of plate tectonics grew out of earlier hypotheses and observations. Plate tectonics this plate tectonics lesson plan involves a classroom activity to help students understand the processes that move and shape earths surface. Finding identical or similar fossils in areas separated by vast distances were. Continental crust oceanic crust oceanic crust alaska. Any other reproduction, for use or sale, is prohibited any other reproduction, for use or sale, is prohibited without prior written permission of the publisher. Old crust is either dragged down into the mantle at a subduction zone or. By examining evidence such as similar rock layers in various places, fossilized desert belts, the distribution. Its the perfect combination to our action packed landform activity pack getting ready. The slipping causes shaking, or vibration in the form of surface and body waves. The theory has caused a revolution in the way we think about the earth. Tectonic plates or huge slabs of solid rocks separate, collide, and slide past each other causing earthquakes, feeding volcanic eruptions, and raising mountains. If the plates continue to move in this pattern, draw a sketch of what the world might look like 250 million years in the future. Plate boundary movements and their results foldable. The structure of the earth, plate tectonics and landforms.
The activity uses a simple wheres waldo approach to identify. Plate tectonics the earths crust is divided into plates which are moved in various directions. Generally, the depth of an earthquake is related to the type of tectonic boundary in which it occurs. Continental drift, sea floor spreading and plate tectonics. The theory of plate tectonics grew out of earlier hypotheses and observations collected during exploration of the rocks of the ocean floor. Plate tectonics, volcanism, and the structure of the earth. Lake mead, nevada, tectonic plates and plate boundaries and plate tectonics.
Tectonic plates plate boundary referenced from bird, peter 2003 an updated digital model of plate boundaries. Name the missing tectonic plates in the blanks on the image below. Crust mantle core crust lithosphere plate movement the crust is broken into plates that move. The theory of plate tectonics worksheet teachengineering.
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. The individual and flash videos linked to the activity tectonic plates, earthquakes, and volcanoes, plate tectonics. Plate tectonics passport activity teachers notes the geological. Interactions at plate boundaries cause volcanic activity and earthquakes. The earths crust is divided into plates which are moved in various directions. The earths plates jostle about in fits and starts that are punctuated with earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Plate tectonics through reading, modeling, and textbook activities. Lesson content overview students will demonstrate, identify, and explain the movement of the plates at.
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