Download 5EinquiryPlateTectonics--SlipSlidingAway

5E Inquiry Lesson Plan
Title: Plate Tectonics: Slip, Slidin’ Away
Grade level: 6th
National Standards:
Unifying Concepts and Processes
Understand Scientific Inquiry
History of Science
Structure of the Earth’s systems
ACOS:
#’s 2,4,5,6
Objectives:
1. Learn about the origin of the Theory of Plate Tectonics.
2. Learn about the composition of the Earth’s crustal plates.
3. Investigate the Earth’s various crustal plate types and boundaries using hard-boiled
eggs as models.
4. Model the Earth’s layers using hard-boiled eggs.
5. Simulate, using edible snacks, the movement of the Earth’s tectonic plates and how
they cause major geological events which result from the motion of these plates.
Procedures
Materials:
Why on Earth is Humpty Dumpty like a crusty old crack-up? The Egg Lab
Paper towels; 3 hard-boiled eggs per group; 2 colored water-based markers; a plastic
knife
WEGENER’S PROOF: Plate Tectonics, How Sweet It Is!
Blue cake icing (approximately ½ cup); one plastic cup; two Graham Cracker squares;
12” by 12” sheet of wax paper; two chewing gum squares; one plastic knife; small bottle
of water; wet wipes; disposal aprons.
HANDOUT C: SUPER SLOW MOTION
Metric ruler; cardboard cutout of California; calculator; scissors.
Engage
Time: One Class Period
1
Day 1:
Pre-Test
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Plate Tectonics Word Search
Day 2:
Time: One class period
Why on Earth is Humpty Dumpty like a crusty old crack-up?
HANDOUT A
Day 3:
Explore
Time: One Class Period
Wegner’s Proof: Plate Tectonics, How Sweet it is!
HANDOUT B
DATA SHEET FOR HANDOUT B
HANDOUT B – LAB DIAGRAM
Day 4:
Explain/Elaborate/Evaluate
Time: One Class Period
PowerPoint Presentation
Open discussion
HANDOUT C
VIDEO
Post Test
2