Download this activity sheet (Word download)

Name: _______________________________
How Do Plates Move?
Moving Apart: Sea Floor Spreading
Plates can move apart. This is called _________________________. It happens where
new crust is being formed at the edges of plates (plate boundaries). As new crust is being
formed by ___________________________, the plates get pushed apart. This kind of
plate movement is happening at places like the mid Atlantic Ridge and in the country of
__________________________.
Moving Down: Subduction/Sinking
When two plates meet, sometimes one subducts, or ____________________ the other
one. This happens when the two plates have different thicknesses. For example, when a
thin ____________ plate collides with a ___________ continental plate, the crust of the
oceanic plate sinks under the continental plate. Sometimes this type of plate movement
can cause the formation of______________________. This is what is happening along
the ‘Ring of Fire’ and that’s why there is volcanic activity in places
like_________________________.
Moving Up: Folding/Collision
When two plates meet, sometimes the collision causes the plates to move upwards and
form ____________________. This happens when the two plates have similar
_________________ and neither one can force the other to subduct. An example of
where this is happening is where the _______________________ Mountains are located.
They are growing higher every day!
Moving Sideways: Slipping ‘n Sliding
When two plates meet, they can sometimes move sideways, or _______________ past
each other. This causes lots of earth tremors and________________. If you live in the
state of _________________________ you may feel this kind of plate movement near
the city of San Francisco.