Download continent, continental drift, seafloor, ocean floor, tectonic

Walled Lake Consolidated Schools
Lesson Planner for Technology-Enhanced Lesson
Date created: November 15, 2009
Teacher’s Name: Pam Shoemaker
Grade Level: 6th
Subject Area: Earth Science
Unit Title: The Changing Earth
Title of Lesson: Ocean Floor Spreading
Approximate time required to complete lesson: 2 class periods
Computer Applications that that will be used: GeoMapApp, a free program from
the Marine Geoscience Data System at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of
Columbia University. Flash version (no download) available from
http://www.geomapapp.org/
Michigan Grade Level Content Expectations
Expectation
Description
Plate Tectonics
Explain plate tectonic movement and how the
E.SE.06.51
lithospheric plates move centimeters each year.
Plate Tectonics
Demonstrate how major geological events
E.SE.06.52
(earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, mountain building)
result from these plate motions.
Plate Tectonics
Describe layers of the Earth as a lithosphere (crust and
E.SE.06.53
upper mantle), convecting mantle, and dense metallic core.
Inquiry
Analyze information from data tables and graphs to answer
S.IA.06.11
scientific questions.
Lesson Abstract:
Sea floor spreading is a difficult concept for students to understand.
GeoMapApp will be used to help students visualize the elevation of the ocean
floor and then apply this experience to gain an understanding that there are
underground mountain ridges in areas where tectonic plates meet caused by
volcanoes. To make it easy for teachers to use this lesson plan, a website has
been created with all materials available a click away.
Goal(s):
1. Students will gain awareness that the ocean floor has varied elevations
even when it looks flat at the surface.
2. Students will use a computer-based tool to visualize and compute
elevations of the Earth (land and sea).
3. Students will understand that volcanoes and earthquakes occur when
tectonic plates meet and slide over one another.
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4. Students will understand that new rocks (crust) are formed from volcanic
activity, which pushes the older rocks away (sea floor spreading)
Guiding Question(s):
Why should we care if there are earthquakes and volcanoes in the middle of the
ocean?
Resources/Related Web Sites:
2. GeoMapApp: http://www.geomapapp.org/
3. Earth Exploration Toolbook – Exploring Seafloor Topography:
http://serc.carleton.edu/eet/seafloor/index.html
4. USGS Modeling Activity - http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/1999/ofr-99-0132/
5. Discovering Plate Boundaries Activity:
http://www.geophysics.rice.edu/plateboundary/
Activities/Procedures:
1. Have students identify where the major oceans are. Then ask if they can guess
where the mid Atlantic Ridge is and the East Pacific Rise is.
2. Two Discovery video clips are available to help students begin to understand
the concept of seafloor spreading. The first is 4 min; the second is 2 min 40
seconds. Teachers can show them to the class all at once if a projector with
ample sound is available.
3. Have students read the explanation of seafloor spreading. It is also available as
an audio recording (mp3) for students who prefer it that way. Have students
do a think-pair-share to explain to one another what seafloor spreading means
in their own words.
4. Students look at an image of the Atlantic Ocean and think/discuss why the
color of the ocean is not blue all over.
5. Next, the class discusses the image/graph (a screenshot from GeoMapApp) to
give them an idea of what the tool is able to do. Discuss what the line in the
graph represents.
6. Students launch GeoMapApp, working with a partner. They will take a virtual
cruise across the Atlantic Ocean. On their cruise, data is collected and made
into a graph that represents the profile of the seafloor beneath their virtual
boat.
7. To assess understanding, students work with a partner to create a poster (or
other type of visual presentation) that explains seafloor spreading. They are to
use pictures and images with very little text, and they both must be able to
explain it.
Important Vocabulary:
continent, continental drift, seafloor, ocean floor, tectonic, lithospheric, plates,
volcano, earthquake, elevation, molten rock, magma, collide, fault, lithosphere,
mod-ocean ridge, plate tectonics, sea floor spreading
Ideas for Differentiation:
Pictures, videos, audio, and simulations are all included in this lesson. Having
available many forms of media should help students of all ability levels gain
experiences and understanding of the process of seafloor spreading.
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Students with physical disabilities may have difficulty zooming into specific
areas with GeoMapApp; Provide assistance if needed.
Students may select their own method of sharing their learning, so students can
self-differentiate according to their interests and talents.
Evaluation: Explain how you will assess, attach/link rubric if available. Box will get
larger as you enter text.
See Rubric on Website.
Info from the MDE GLCE Clarifications Document
Standard: Solid Earth
Content Statement – E.SE.M.5
Plate Tectonics – The lithospheric plates of the Earth constantly
move, resulting in major geological events, such as earthquakes,
volcanic eruptions, and mountain building.
Content Expectations:
E.SE.06.51 Explain plate tectonic movement and that the lithospheric plates
move centimeters each year.
Instructional Clarifications
1. Explain is to clearly describe by means of illustrations (drawing),
demonstrations, written reports, or verbally the movement of lithospheric
plates.
2. The Earth’s crust is composed of seven major semi-rigid plates that slowly
move in various directions. The plates are referred to as lithospheric
plates.
3. These plates only move centimeters per year.
4. One theory for the movement of the plates is that the mantle pushes the
plates by a process called convection. When a gas or a liquid is heated
unevenly, the part that is heated rises (convection current).
5. Another theory is that gravity pulls the old heavier ocean floor with more
force then the newer lighter sea floor.
6. As the plates move they interact with one another at their boundaries,
where they are separating, converging, or sliding past each other.
Assessment Clarifications
1. The Earth’s crust is composed of seven major semi-rigid plates that move
in various directions. The plates are referred to as lithospheric plates.
2. These plates only move centimeters per year.
3. As the plates move they interact with one another at their boundaries,
where they are separating, converging, or sliding past each other.
4. One theory for the movement of the plates is that the mantle pushes the
plates by a process called convection. When a gas or a liquid is heated
unevenly, the part that is heated rises (convection current).
5. Another theory is that gravity pulls the old heavier ocean floor with more
force then the newer lighter sea floor.
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6. As the plates move they interact with one another at their boundaries,
where they are separating, converging, or sliding past each other.
E.SE.06.52 Demonstrate how major geological events (earthquakes,
volcanic eruptions, mountain building) result from these plate motions.
Instructional Clarifications
1. Demonstrate is to show major geological events through manipulation of
materials, drawings, and written and verbal explanations.
2. Earthquakes are formed when the boundaries of the lithospheric plates
move against each other, building up pressure, then cause a sudden and
often violent shift. This movement causes an earthquake.
3. Volcanoes are formed when plates move apart or collide.
4. When two plates collide, one plate is pushed up and the other slides
under. Part of the crust that slides under is melted, and forms magma
and can be forced through vents to form volcanic mountains.
5. Volcanoes can also be formed when a plate moves over a hot spot in the
mantle and exposes a vent. Fountains of magma or hot rock punch
through the crust.
6. When plates beneath the ocean move apart a vent is exposed and magma
slowly rises to the surface, which forms a new ocean floor.
7. Mountains form when two plates collide. The two plates crush together
causing land to be pushed up, resulting in the folding and breaking of the
Earth’s crust.
Assessment Clarifications
1. Earthquakes are formed when the boundaries of the lithospheric plates
move against each other, building up pressure, and then causing a
sudden and often violent shift. This movement causes an earthquake.
2. Volcanoes are formed when plates move apart or collide.
3. When two plates collide, one plate is pushed up and the other slides
under. Part of the crust that slides under is melted, and forms magma
and can be forced through vents to form volcanic mountains.
4. Volcanoes can also be formed when a plate moves over a hot spot in the
mantle and exposes a vent. Fountains of magma or hot rock punch
through the crust.
5. When plates beneath the ocean move apart a vent is exposed and magma
slowly rises to the surface, which forms a new ocean floor.
6. Mountains form when two plates collide. The two plates crush together
causing land to be pushed up, resulting in the folding and breaking of the
Earth’s crust.
E.SE.06.53 Describe layers of the Earth as lithosphere (crust and upper
mantle), convecting mantle, and a dense metallic core.
Instructional Clarifications
1. Describe is to tell or depict in spoken or written words the layers of the
Earth.
2. Lithosphere is the solid, most outer part of the Earth; the part of the
Earth’s surface that is made up of land, including the ocean’s floor.
3. The Earth’s crust is the outside (exterior) of the Earth.
4. Mantle is the layer of the Earth between the crust and the core.
5. The core of the Earth is found below the mantle.
6. The core of the Earth is made up of iron and nickel.
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7. There is a liquid outer core and a solid inner core.
8. The core of the Earth heats the mantle. This transfer of energy through
the layers of the Earth is convection.
Assessment Clarifications
1. Lithosphere is the solid most outer part of the Earth; the part of the
Earth’s surface that is made up of land, including the ocean’s floor.
2. The earth’s crust is the outside (exterior) of the Earth.
3. Mantle is the layer of the Earth between the crust and the core.
4. The core of the Earth is found below the mantle.
5. The core of the Earth is made up of iron and nickel.
6. There is a liquid outer core and a solid inner core.
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