Earth's Changing Crust: Plate Tectonics

Presented by: Timothy Thomas

Subject Area(s):

Grade Level(s):

Description:

Plate tectonic is the theory that states that the surface of the Earth is broken into large plates. These plates move and change shape and size over time. It is the movement of these plates that causes earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, mountain building, and other intense geologic activity. The theory of plate tectonics is a combination of two earlier theories; continental drift and sea-floor spreading. The development of plate tectonics has revolutionized the was geologists have come to think about the Earth's crust.



The lesson starts with a description of the chemical and physical layers of the Earth. Then the historical development of the plate tectonic theory is described. The lesson concludes with descriptions of the location and types of plate boundaries. This lesson is longer than most . A concise classroom presentation might describe the layers of the Earth, location of plate boundaries, and types of plate motion.





Goals & Objectives:

1.  Students will be able to explain the theories of continental drift and sea floor spreading in order to understand the basis for the theory of Plate Tectonics

 

2.  Students will be able to state the evidence that supports the theories of continental drift, sea floor spreading, and plate tectonics.

 

3.  Students will be able to explain how the plates move by describing the motion of the crust that occurs at the 3 types of plate boundaries; convergent, divergent, and transform.

 

Materials:

The following is a list of authoritative sites pertaining to the Theory of Plate Tectonics.

 

Introduction to Plate Tectonics includes the following topics

  1. major layers of the Earth.
  2. how earthquakes and volcanoes help define plate boundaries.
  3. the ways that plates move.
  4. examination of the steps in proving a major theory.
  5. pictures detailing each of the ideas presented.

http://volcano.und.edu/vwdocs/vwlessons/plate_tectonics/introduction.html

 

Geology:  Plate Tectoincs includes the follwoing topics

 

    1.  history behind plate tectonics theory.

    2.  mechanisms driving plate tectonics.

    3.  animated gifs of plate movement from 750 million years ago.

 

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/geology/tectonics.html

 

The Dynamic Earth: the story of plate tectonics (sponsered by the United States Geological Survey USGS) includes the following topics

    1.  Preface

    2.  Historical Perspective

    3.  Developing the theory

    4.  Understanding plante motions

    5.  Hotspots

    6.  Unanswered Questions

    7.  Plate tectonics and people

    8.  Endnotes

    9.  Many pictures illustrating the theory

http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dynamic/dynamic.html

Procedures:

Step 1: (approximate time two 45 minute classes) 

Using the links given students will prepare a Power Point on the theory of Contintal Drift by addressing the following questions.  At minimum the power point should be made up of eight slides including explanations and pictures that effectively illustrate the concepts.

 

1.  What is the theory of Continental Drift?

2.  Briefly describing the history and people involved in developing the idea of  

    continental drift.

3.  Explain the supercontinent of Pangea. (what was it? when did it exist?

     what happened to it?)

4.  Discover and explain the 4 pieces of evidence that supports the theory of

     continental drift.

 

Step 2:  (approximate time two 45 minute periods)

Using the links given students will add the theory of SeaFloor Spreading to their prepared Power Point on the theory Continental Drift by addressing the following questions.  At minimum the power point should be made up of five slides including explanations and pictures that effectively illustrate the concepts.

 

1.  What is the theory of Seafloor Spreading?

2.  Briefly describing the history and people involved in developing the idea of  

    seafloor spreading.

3.  Throughly explain the movement of the seafloor as detailed in the theory of

     seafloor spreading

4.  Discover and explain the 2 pieces of evidence that supports the theory of

     seafloor spreading.

 

Step 3: (approximate two 45 minute period)

Using the links given students will add the theory of Plate Tectonics to their prepared Power Point on the theory Continental Drift & Seafloor Spreading by addressing the following questions.  At minimum the power point should be made up of six slides including explanations and pictures that effectively illustrate the concepts.

 

1.  What is the theory of Plate Tectonics?

2.  Briefly describing the history and people involved in developing the idea of  

    Plate Tectonics.

3.  Completely explain 3 types of plate boundaries.

4.  What causes the plates to move and the seafloor to spread? (explain in

     detail)

 

 

  

Assessment:

The following can be used by the classroom teacher as a quiz, classwork or homework assignment to assess the students understanding of Plate Tectonics.



1. What theory states that continents have moved to their current location?



2. A divergent, convergent, or transform fault forms when one plate slides

under another plate.



3. When two plate move away from each other a divergent, convergent, or

transform fault forms.



4. List the four pieces of evidence that support that the continents were

once connected and have moved to their current location.



5. What is happening to the seafloor at the midocean ridge?



6. What happens to the seafloor when it meets a continent?



7. What direction are plate moving at a transform boundary?



8. Why wouldn't the fossil of an ocean fish found on 2 seperate continents

be good evidence for supporting continental drift?



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