The tharpheezen map illustrated the geological features that characterize the seafloor and became a crucial factor in the acceptance of the theories of plate tectonics and continental drift. Plate tectonics this plate tectonics lesson plan involves a classroom activity to help students understand the processes that move and shape earths surface. Abstract the plate tectonics project is a multiday, inquirybased unit that facilitates students as selfmotivated learners. Plate tectonics is the surface manifestation of mantle convection, but the large contrast in viscosities between the lithosphere and the deeper mantle leads to departures from a simple boiling pot. This webpage has a variety of classroom activities and resources associated with plate tectonics. Physical geology is a comprehensive introductory text on the physical aspects of geology, including rocks and minerals, plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes, glaciation, groundwater, streams, coasts, mass wasting, climate change, planetary geology and much more. Do you prefer your cookies with transform plate boundaries or divergent plate boundaries. Plates move apart at divergent plate boundaries such as the oceanic. Learn about fault lines and plate tectonics with an informative and delicious handson activity. Today, these theories serve as the foundation upon. Investigating the patterns produced by volcanoes and earthquakes. Based on the pace of your course, you may need to adapt the lesson plan to fit your needs. We would possibly have no earthquakes, mountains, plate boundarieswithout plate tectonics, im sure there would be no plate boundariesthe climate would be effected and no volcanoes. Plate tectonics projects due november 26th, 2012 choose at least 30 points of work.
Include each of the features andor labels in model from the below list. This section will introduce you to the concept of plate tectonics, how it works, why it is important and how it is shaping the world today. The low parts of the plates are beneath the worlds oceans, and the high parts of the plates are landmasses. Evidence that supports the theory of plate tectonics includes distribution of rock formation and fossils, shapes of existing continents, ocean floor features, and seismic and volcanic activity. Label the bottom tab transform and draw the plate movements here lift the tab. This project will be evaluated in the following ways. The theory has caused a revolution in the way we think about the earth.
Plate tectonics is the most important concept in modern geology. The plate like sections that move as distinct masses cause much of the earths seismic activity at the boundary of these plates. In this plate tectonic framework, large scale deformation is the local response of the lithosphere to induced stresses. Feb 02, 20 different projects are a great way to help students grasp the complicated topic of plate tectonics. Today it is widely accepted that the earths crust consists of a series of huge plates that slowly move.
Pdf to understand how plate tectonics became earths dominant. Plate tectonics project braun 7th and 8th grade science. Plate movements are responsible for most continental and ocean floor features and for the distribution of most rocks and minerals within earths crust. You will lose considerable points for every day it is late. The lithosphere lithosphere is comprised of the upper mantle and the crust, the outer shell of the earth. Reliable web sites are offered to assist with lessons, and a summative rubric is used to facilitate the holistic nature of the project. Like the scientists before us, we will now merge the ideas of continental drift and seafloor spreading into the theory of plate tectonics. Along spreading centers in the sea floor, melted rock rises through cracks, cools, and forms new crust that builds up midocean ridges. How to build a tectonic plate for a science project. Lesson content overview students will demonstrate, identify, and explain the movement of the plates at. Download the plate tectonics assignments pdf worksheet for various ideas that you can let children choose from to show their talents and understandings of specific ideasconcepts.
Plate tectonics, the study of such relative motions. Most geologic activities, including volcanoes, earthquakes, and mountain building, take place at plate boundaries. Plate tectonics provides a basis for understanding the distribution and origin of mineral and energy resources in space and time rona, 1977. Explanatory notes for the platetectonic map of the circumpacific. In 1977, after decades of tediously collecting and mapping ocean sonar data, scientists began to see a fairly accurate picture of the seafloor emerge. Help young scientists piece together the theory of plate tectonics with this comprehensive collection of materials. Introduction to plate tectonics and earthquakes lesson plans. Pdf plate tectonics, our major paradigm for how the earth works, was established.
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. They also look at how volcanoes and earthquakes are explained by tectonic plate movement, and how engineers use this information. Learn about school projects on plate tectonics with help from a science teacher and writer in. Plate boundary movements and their results foldable. Free powerpoint presentations about plate tectonics for. Please come see me to get the gluable card pieces for the assignment. Explain that scientists geologists use plate tectonics to explain the movement of the earths crust. After each topic parts of the earth, continental drift, etc. This resource has science, technology, engineering, and measurement activities to do with your upper elementary kids that will really enhance their learning. Describe and compare different types of plate motions, rates of motion and the driving mechanisms and forces involved with each. Requires students to integrate and process a large array of visual data regarding plate tectonic processes. This is the man who proposed the idea that it wasnt a coincidence that the continents fit together and that over time they had drifted away from each other. Plate tectonics describes the distribution and motion of the plates. Its the perfect combination to our action packed landform activity pack getting ready.
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. Without all of these things, we would basically still be in the ice ages. Below is a sample breakdown of the plate tectonics chapter into a 5day school week. The global mosaic of plates periodically reorganizes itself and new plate boundaries form while others close up. Different projects are a great way to help students grasp the complicated topic of plate tectonics.
Wegeners theory and sea floor maps were used to develop the theory of plate tectonics. Since the development of the theory, geologists have had to reexamine almost every aspect of. These slabs are called tectonic plates and fit together like pieces to a puzzle. Develop a model using an example to describe ways the geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, andor atmosphere interact. Plate tectonics information and facts national geographic. Working in pairs, students think like engineers and connect what they.
Create a power point presentation for plate tectonics include at least 5 pictures. Divergent boundaries constructive are where plates are moving away from each other. The sample provides ideas for plate tectonics but it is easy to change. The structure of the earth, plate tectonics and landforms. When the concept of seafloor spreading came along, scientists recognized that it was the mechanism to explain how continents could move around earths surface. But learning about it during the last 40 years has given scientists many theoretical tools to understand other planets, even those that circle other stars. Plate tectonics, theory dealing with the dynamics of earths outer shell that revolutionized earth sciences by providing a uniform context for understanding mountainbuilding processes, volcanoes, and earthquakes as well as the evolution of earths surface and reconstructing its past continents and oceans.
Superimposed in red are the more than 400 national park system sites. In part 1, students view flash interactives and quicktime videos which delineate the relationship between volcanoes, earthquakes and plate boundaries and discuss the ancient continent of pangaea. The grade 6 earth science unit on plate tectonics is presented to students through a series of investigations using indirect evidence models and direct evidence, experiments, active learning experiences, researching using a variety of sources, questions, and assessments. See more ideas about plate tectonics, earth science and earth and space science. Create a mural or collage of various plate tectonic topics. 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. Updated plate motion models are in turn applied to regional tectonic studies by plates investigators and collaborators and by project sponsors.
In the earth history section of this website are fullcolor paleogeographic maps showing the ancient mountain ranges and shorelines. Using the online resources at the earthquakes living lab, students examine information and gather evidence supporting the theory. For the rest of us, plate tectonics is a simple theory that helps make sense of the earths face. Tectonic plate projects can be designed easily by creating an interesting salt map from ingredients found in most kitchens. The purpose of this project is to conduct research on earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, and plate tectonics. Sep 17, 2009 the theory of plate tectonics explains how plates and their continents move. The theory of plate tectonics geology lumen learning. On the underside of the tab, write plates sliding past each other.
Plate tectonics sound tasty so why not make them a tasty project. This lesson plan is useful for elementary, secondary, middle school, and university students. Our summer travels led us to several volcanoes so naturally my kiddos were. Plate tectonics through reading, modeling, and textbook activities. Plate tectonic and ocean trenches have in common the process that takes place at convergent boundaries by which one tectonic plate moves under another tectonic plate called subduction. Plate tectonics and related concepts depending on the project selected download the plate tectonics assignments pdf worksheet for various ideas that you can let children choose from to show their talents and understandings of specific ideas. You will need to answer the plate tectonics question, pick one natural disaster, create an illustration or model, then answer the research questions.
The guide contains links to totle introduction to plate tectonics and earthquakes teaching resources and a table of contents of teaching resources on this topic. For this science project you will need to develop your own experimental procedure. Conclude with the class that plate motions are associated with earthquakes and volcanoes. Circumpacific map project, a cooperative international earthscience. Plate tectonics project najadah woodley 10714 without plate tectonics, the earth would be different for sure. How old are the rocks off the east coast of north america relative to the rocks right along the mid atlantic ridge, why do you think this is the case. If you would like to discuss your ideas or need help troubleshooting, use the ask an expert forum. This theory would later be combined with harry hesss seafloor spreading theory to get our modern view of plate tectonics. Prentice hall volcanoes and plate tectonics free pdf. Plate tectonics and related concepts depending on the project selected. Learn about school projects on plate tectonics with help from a. The university of texas institute for geophysics utig plates program is dedicated to the research of plate tectonics and geologic reconstructions. Continental drift, sea floor spreading and plate tectonics. It has a strong emphasis on examples from western canada, especially british.
Illustrate the three different crust movements on the chalkboard and a. Using a cookie to represent the earths lithosphere, asthenosphere, and lower mantle, middle schoolers slide the. You will recall from a previous chapter that there are three. At divergent boundaries in the oceans, magma from deep in the earths mantle rises toward the surface and pushes apart two or more plates. How to build a tectonic plate for a science project sciencing. The earth is composed of layers of different composition and physical properties, principally the solid central core, the fluid peripheral core, the viscous mantle, and the solid. There are three principal types of plate boundary divergent, convergent, and transform.
The theory of plate tectonics grew out of earlier hypotheses and observations collected during exploration of the rocks of the ocean floor. Extra terrestrial plate tectonics marshall bartlett students decide whether plate tectonics is operating on another planet in our solar system. Then, students examine how the earths systems spheres interact when plates collide. Our experts wont do the work for you, but they will make suggestions and offer guidance if you come to them with specific questions. In this lesson, students explore the plate tectonics theory by watching a video and taking notes. Whether your are looking for worksheets, handson activities, or assessments, this resource has everything a science teacher nee. Plate tectonics pickaproject submitted by lisa berrykoeppen, rogers jr high targeted concepts. A pdf guide to plate tectonics and earthquakes is also available. Students gather evidence to explain the theory of plate tectonics. The earths crust is divided into plates which are moved in various directions.
Divergent margins and continental spreading centers. Use the information in the summary tab as a starting place. The goal of the paleomap project is to illustrate the plate tectonic development of the ocean basins and continents, as well as the changing distribution of land and sea during the past 1100 million years. This project will work best after some introductory lessons on plate tectonics, as students will be able to apply what they have learned to build complex or notsocomplex models of the moving. To create a visual model demonstrating an understanding of the various topics associated with the theory of plate tectonics and how these topics all relate to one another. Students will choose an appetizer, side dish, main entree, and desert in the form of a menu but its really a choice board. Plate tectonics is a theory explaining the structure of the earths crust and the interaction of plates that move slowly over underlying mantle. Plate tectonics project stem challenges by studentsavvy tpt. The plate model developed by the plates project describes the evolution of the earths oceans and the movement of the earths tectonic plates from the late precambrian through the present day. Dec 12, 20 a quick overview of plate tectonics, including a look at the different types of plate boundaries. The occurrence of energy and mineral deposits can be related to plate tectonics in three ways. To integrate plate tectonics with language arts, geography, history, and art, and to provide students with an opportunity to learn about a geologically significant locality of their choosing.
Convergent boundaries destructive are where plates are moving towards each. The plate tectonics project is a multiday, inquirybased unit that facilitates students as selfmotivated learners. Plate tectonics is one of the most successful theories in science, explaining earthquakes, mountain ranges. The man who is the 3rd picture down on the left is alfred wegner. In plate tectonics, students are introduced to the theory behind this geophysical phenomenon and investigate the evidence that supports it. All work is expected to be in a final form and of very high quality. The project is supported by a consortium of industry associates. A quick overview of plate tectonics, including a look at the different types of plate boundaries. Salt maps can be used to create lithospheric plates and tectonic plate boundaries for 3d projects, and they provide an excellent method for projecting the theory of plate tectonics. Eric ej946756 the plate tectonics project, science. This plate motion causes them to collide, pull apart, or scrape. Chapter 1 plate tectonics power point linkedin slideshare. Developed from the 1950s through the 1970s, plate tectonics is the modern version of continental drift, a theory first proposed by scientist alfred wegener in 1912.
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