Download Quakes and Plates - COSEE-SE

Play-Doh Plates
STUDENT PAGE
Part II
Procedure
1.
Follow the steps below while taking notes in your
science notebook.
Part I
Each student group will receive about ½ jar of each
Play-Doh color. Your teacher will designate which
color represents the upper mantle, which color
represents the oceanic crust, and which color
represents the continental crust.
1.
2. Each group should select one of the edges of
the group’s own plate model. This will be
referred to as the model’s Convergent Boundary.
3. Orient the two group models so that the two
Convergent Boundaries are facing each other.
Do not physically converge the models.
Make a key in your science notebook of the
Play-Doh colors and what each represents.
a.
Pair up with another group and exchange your
models, maps and written summaries. Examine
the other group’s model. When both groups are
ready, each group should describe the model of
the other group.
What type of rock is found in each of these
layers?
4. Predict what will happen if the two plates
collide, or converge. In your notebook, write
the answers to the questions below.
2. Construct a model of a single lithospheric plate
on top of the square of cardboard. You must
include all three types of rock/colors of PlayDoh. For simplicity, include only 1 continent.
a.
3. Name your plate and write a brief description
of your plate. You may also name the continent
and ocean(s) that are included.
What type or types of convergent plate
boundary(ies) will occur? (Remember that if
you have oceanic crust AND continental
crust along one edge of a plate, that each
will converge differently.)
b. Describe what will happen during the
convergence.
4. Draw a map of your plate, using the same scale
as your model (the same dimensions as the
cardboard, 8”x8”). Label any geographic or
geologic features that you’ve created and
described in your written summary.
c.
Describe any new seafloor features that will
be produced, and where they will occur.
d. Describe any new continental features that
will be produced, and where they will occur.
5. Draw a light line on your map from one side of
the map to the other, anywhere that the line
would cross both the continent and the ocean.
Label this line as A-A’ (one end of the line is A
and the other end is A’).
e.
Describe any new rock that will be
produced, and where it will occur.
f.
Will earthquakes occur? If so, where will
they originate?
5. Using the two Play-Doh plate models, construct
a new model of the resulting convergent plate
boundary. Construct any seafloor or continental
features generated by the type of convergence
illustrated by the model.
6. Imagine that you could cut straight into your
model along the A-A’ line and view the cut
surface from the side. This view is called a
cross-section. Draw a diagram of what you
think you’d find if you could view the crosssection along line A-A’. Label all the layers and
color the map using the key you developed in
step 1.
6. Draw a map of your two-plate convergent
boundary model. Label the surface features.
7. Draw a cross-sectional view along a line B-B’
that crosses the plate boundary (perpendicular
to the plate boundary).
S-1