Download Milky Way Plate Tectonics

“Eating Your Way Through Earth Science”
Nicole McClain
Lesson Plan No 2: Milky Way Plate Tectonics
n SUBJECTS COVERED
n DIRECTIONS
Science, Geology
n GR ADES
Time: 45 minutes
• Discuss with students the different
types of plate boundaries and the
landforms they create.
Five - Twelve
•
n OBJECTIVES
To discover how the plates of the earth
move to create landforms.
Students should draw what they see
going on and list the landforms they
created.
•
Have students replace the Milky
Way back to it’s original form.
•
SC.D.1.2.5.5.1: understands how the
surface of the Earth is shaped by
both slow processes (for example,
weathering, erosion, deposition)
and rapid, cataclysmic events (for
example, earthquakes, tsunamis,
volcanoes).
Next students will simulate a
transform boundary where two
plates slip past one another, by
sliding the two halves in opposite
directions. Make sure students see
that landforms such as peninsulas
can form in this manner. Mention to
students that the San Andreas Fault
is a transform fault.
•
SC.H.1.2.5.5.2: constructs models to
compare objects in science.
Have students replace Milky Way
back to its original form.
•
Last the students will simulate a
convergent boundary, where two
plates collide causing one plate to
uplift over the other, by pushing the
two sides of the Milky Way into one
another. They should see clearly
how landforms like mountains and
volcanoes can be created.
•
The students should draw
conclusions about certain landforms
on earth and what type of boundary
created them.
•
Finally, students may eat their
"plates" once they have answered a
question correctly about what they
have just learned.
SC.D.1.2.4.5.2: understands that
geological features result from the
movement of the crust of the Earth
(for example, mountains, volcanic
islands).
SC.H.1.2.1.3.1: knows that it is important
to keep accurate records and
descriptions to provide information
and clues on causes of discrepancies
in repeated experiments.
SC.H.1.2.2.5.1: understands that
scientists use different kinds
of investigations (for example,
observations of events in nature,
controlled experiments) depending
on the questions they are trying to
answer.
n MATERIALS
Use the rubric to assess the students
participation and journal entries.
Have students simulate a divergent
boundary where the plates split
apart forming a trench or rift valley,
by pulling the Milky Way in half. Make sure students leave the
caramel dipping between the two
halves.
•
n SUNSHINE STATE
STANDARDS
n EVALUATION /
ASSESSMENT
1. Milky Way candy bars
2. Paper towels
3. Science Notebook
2007 - 2008 Idea Catalog of Excellence
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