Download 2.4c

Unit 2 2.4 The Ever-Changing Earth
Double Award(Chemistry)
Syllabus Specifications
 the processes occurring at conservative, destructive and constructive plate
boundaries where plates slide past one another, move towards one another
and move apart respectively
Additional Teacher Guidance
Candidates should know that plotting the epicentres of major earthquakes and the sites of
active volcanoes indicates the location of plate boundaries – regions where the edges of
different plates are in contact. Plates move apart at a mid ocean ridge; this is called a
constructive plate boundary because volcanic activity produces new igneous rock. At a
destructive plate boundary, one plate is pushed down into the mantle and melts to form
magma, causing explosive volcanoes. Both of these boundary types are linked to earthquakes
and volcanic activity. At a conservative plate boundary, where plates slide past each other,
powerful earthquakes are generated but there are no volcanoes because melting does not
occur. Candidates are not expected to recall the detailed structures of these boundary types.
Skills
Working Scientifically
Learners will be able to develop scientific explanations and understanding of familiar and
unfamiliar facts.
Number of lessons: 1
Lesson Outline
Starter: GCSE bitesize video to recap the structure of the Earth. Pupils
answer quick quiz questions.
Development: Why do we have volcanoes and earthquakes? Where do
they happen? Use co-ordinates to plot on a map where earthquakes and
volcanoes happen. Pupils should appreciate that seismic activity is
located at the plate boundaries. Show flash animation and explore plate
boundaries to show examples of conservative, destructive and
constructive plate boundaries. (This could be an independent learning
task if iPads available for pupil use.) Pupils complete card sort to match
descriptions and diagrams.
Reflection: Pupils produce a leaflet describing plate boundaries. Include
diagrams to help understand the movement aspects of the plates.
Mathematical Skills
Using co-ordinates to plot on the map where earthquakes and volcanoes happen.
Possible Misconceptions
Links to resources
Plate movement is unnoticeable on a human timeframe, common use of
BBC Bitesize Starter Quiz:
fingernail growth analogy is only true for slowest plates.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/21c/earth_universe/changing_earthact.shtml
The ground cracks open during an earthquake to swallow people and
Flash animation: http://www.amnh.org/ology/features/plates/loader.swf
buildings (information often gained from books and films).
Pdf: Coordinates, card sort