Download Tectonic Plate Boundaries Inquiry Lesson

Tectonic Plate Boundaries Inquiry Lesson
Objective:
1. Students will investigate and be able to describe the three types of tectonic plate
boundaries using the learning cycle approach.
Bell Work: (Engage)
What cause mountains to form, earthquakes to shake, and volcanoes to erupt?
Explore:
First give each table a spoon full of frosting, one gram cracker sheet, a one foot
square sheet of wax paper, two cut pieces of fruit roll ups.
Explain to the students that this activity will demonstrate the movement of tectonic plate
boundaries.
Activity:
1. Lay out the sheet of wax paper on your table.
2. Spread the frosting on the paper 5 x 5 in square. (Asthenosphere)
3. Lay the two fruit roll up square next to each other.
4. Press them down.
a. They represent the oceanic crust – basalt, thin but dense
b. Oceanic plates move on top of the asthenosphere.
5. Push the two plates together to see the magma rise between them.
6. Pull them apart to represent sea-floor spreading.
a. Sea-floor spreading – when plates move away from each other filling
the gap with new rock.
7. Grab one gram cracker square.
8. Place it on the frosting next to the oceanic plate.
a. Represents the continental crust – granite, thicker than oceanic crust but,
less dense
9. Slide the plate across on top of the oceanic crust.
a. Continent crusts slides over the top of the oceanic crust because it is
less dense than the oceanic crust. (Continental/Oceanic Collision)
10. Take of the other oceanic crust and set it aside.
11. Take both gram crackers and set them side by side.
12. Carefully slide the square side each other.
a. Draw and describe what you see.
b. The two plate slide past each other with jerk like motions.
13. Take both gram crackers and place the edge in a cup of water for 1 - 2 seconds
14. Carefully place them on the frosting, soft edge to soft edge.
15. Slowly push them together.
a. Draw and describe what you see.
b. Continental crusts slams into the other continental crusts and the land
buckles (mountain formation). Continental/Continental Collisions
16. Now you may eat your snacks.
Explain:
Read pages 100-101 and answer the questions about Tectonic Plate Boundaries.
Extend:
Discuss the three boundaries
Convergent – two tectonics plates push into each other.
Continental/Oceanic Collisions – volcanic activity/Deep trenches
Continental/Continental Collisions – mountain formation
Oceanic/Oceanic Collisions – may cause Tsunamis/Deep trenches
Evaluation:
Fill in the triple Venn Diagram about the three boundaries.
Plate Boundary Activity
Name___________________
Lay out the sheet of wax paper on your table.
Spread the frosting on the paper 5 x 5 in square. (Asthenosphere)
Lay the two fruit roll up squares flat and next to each other.
Press them down.
Push the two plates together to see the magma rise between them.
Pull them apart to represent sea-floor spreading.
Draw and describe what is happening in relationship to tectonic plates.
1
Oceanic Crust –
Sea-floor spreading -
Grab one gram cracker square.
Place it on the frosting next to the oceanic plate.
Slide the plate across on top of the oceanic crust.
Draw and describe what is happening.
2
Take off the other oceanic crust and set it aside.
Take off both oceanic crust squares.
Take both gram crackers and set them side by side.
Carefully slide the square side each other.
Draw and describe what you see.
3
Take both gram crackers and place the edge in a cup of water for 1 - 2 seconds
Carefully place them on the frosting, soft edge to soft edge.
Slowly push them together.
Draw and describe what you see.
4
Now you may eat your snacks.
Explain:
Directions: Answer the questions about tectonic plate boundaries using your text book.
Page 100 –101
1. Define the following:
Convergent Boundary –
Divergent Boundary –
Transform Boundary –
2. What type of collisions happen at a convergent boundary.
3. What is subduction?
4. Look at the diagram figure 14, what type of boundary would form volcanoes?
5. What type of boundary is related to sea-floor spreading?
6. True or False Divergent boundaries can also be found on continents.
7. What is a great example of a transform boundary?
Page 92 Look at the diagram figure 4
8. The Nazca plate and the South American plate are divided by what type of boundary?
9. The African plate and the South American plate are divided by what type of boundary?
10. Looking at the diagram about the movement of tectonic plates, why are their massive
earthquakes in India?