Download Lesson Two: Moving Continents Vocabulary Station

ANSWER KEY
Lesson Two: Moving Continents
Vocabulary Station
Part A: Describe what happens to the plates at each type of boundary and tell what
geological activity is most likely to be found at each.
Type of Boundary
What Happens to the Plates?
Geological Activity Found Here
Divergent
plates move apart
volcanoes, earthquakes,
underwater mountain chains
Convergent
plates come together or collide
earthquakes, mountain formation
Transform
plates slide past each other
earthquake activity
Part B: Define each of the following terms:
Ridge
Trench
Fault
Sea Floor Spreading
Subduction Zone
Part C: What is the meaning of these terms:
PANGAEA
PANTHALASSA
Lesson Two: Moving Continents
Discussion Question Station
Scientists have many different pieces of evidence to support their theory that the continents
have moved from their original location. Describe each of the following pieces of
evidence. Write 3 - 4 pieces of information about each. You may write in jot note form.
A) The Jigsaw Puzzle Theory -
B) Evidence in Magnetic Band of Rocks -
C) Matching Fossils on Two Continents -
D) Location of Mineral Deposits in Cold Climates -
E) Mineral Bands on Two Continents -
Lesson Two: Moving Continents
Computer Station
Go to the following website:
http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/vwlessons/lessons/Pangea/Pangea1.html
Fill in the following blanks with the information you learn at this site.
The Earth’s crust is broken into twelve main pieces called
. When two
. The Earth’s plates move about
plates come together, it is called a
centimeters per year.
250 million years ago, the Earth’s continents were connected in one huge landmass called
. Surrounding this landmass was a giant ocean called
. Scientists believe that North America was in or near the
during this time. They know this because they have located
plants and animals in regions like
of tropical
and
.
About 150 years ago, Pangaea began to break up due to the
in the mantle. Two new continents were formed:
currents
(present day continents
(present
North America (Greenland), Europe and Asia) and
day
continents Antarctica, Australia and South America).
Scientists have searched for evidence to prove this theory of moving continents. By examining
the
and
continents of
content of rocks on the shores of the
and
,
scientists have concluded that these two continents were once joined. Rocks at the area known as
match identically for age and mineral content.
The
About 135 years ago, both Laurasia and Gondwanaland further split. During this
movement of continents, the Indian plate crashed into the
speed and force that it created the
plate with such
, the Earth’s tallest mountain range.
Lesson Two: Moving Continents
Hands-On Activity Station
Read the following information about the moving plates. Then complete the activity and
questions below.
According to the Continental Drift Theory, the continents once formed a giant
landmass named Pangaea. It wasn’t until the 1950s and 1960s that scientists began to
explain how the continents were able to move with their discovery of the midocean ridges
and sea-floor spreading. According to this new theory, the Theory of Plate Tectonics, seafloor spreading widened the Atlantic Ocean and separated Pangaea into the continents as
we know them today.
Your task is to reconstruct a model of Pangaea using the continents of today.
Materials:
Maps worksheet - one per student
scissors
glue stick
blank sheet of paper
1. Each group member will roughly cut out the continents.
2. Try and fit the continents into one large landmass, similar to a jigsaw puzzle. The fit will
not be perfect.
3. When you have the best fit, glue your pieces down on the blank sheet of paper.
4. Answer the following questions:
A) Which two continents have the best fit?
B) Why isn’t the fit perfect if the continents were all once part of Pangaea? Suggest at
least two reasons.