Download Plate Tectonics

PLATE TECTONICS
5/10/14
Plate Tectonics - 2
Key Question: What is continental
drift?
Initial Thoughts:
Evidence 1: Video W.S.
Paste the w.s. into your journal
http://www.teachersdomain.org/resource/ess05.s
ci.ess.earthsys.wegener1/
http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/about/edu/dynamicpla
net/wegener/puzzlelegend.pdf
Evidence 2: Pangaea Wegener’s Puzzling Evidence
1. Label the land masses (continents) and color the
2.
3.
4.
5.
fossil areas using the key provided (next slide)
Cut out each of the continents.
Try to logically piece the continents together so
they form a giant supercontinent (Pangaea).
They should fit within the outline. Paste them on
(a little overlap is ok), fold and attach in your
journal.
Discuss with your group if the evidence is
compelling or not.
Continental Drift
 Alfred Wegener was the 1st scientists to come
up with the idea of “continental drift”
 His idea was that the continents slowly
moved away from each other.
 This supercontinent was called Pangaea.
Plate Tectonics
 The earth’s surface is
broken into large sections
called plates.
 Plates are made up of crust
and the very upper part
of the mantle – called
the lithosphere.
Plate Tectonics
 Plate tectonics includes HOW the plates
move.
 New crust forms at mid-ocean ridges
 Old crust destroyed at deep ocean trenches
Convection Currents
 Remember those in the MANTLE?
Analysis Questions
1. What are some pieces of evidence to
support Wegner’s idea of Continental Drift
and Pangaea?
2. What is the theory of Plate Tectonics?
3. What is the driving force behind the theory
of Plate Tectonics?
Summary
What did you think about plate tectonics before
this lesson?
What did you learn about plate tectonics from
this lesson? (Minimum of 3 sentences!!!)
What are some further thoughts or questions you
have about plate tectonics?
Reflection
Using pictures or words or a combination of both,
explain plate tectonics to a kindergartner.
Big Idea
 The earth’s crust is made up of plates that are
slowly moving over time.
Rate My New Knowledge on the
Learning Target
 0 – I don’t understand
 1 – I have some knowledge
 2 – I understand the learning target well
 3 – I understand the learning target well and I can
teach someone else about it
 If you scored less than 2, explain what you can do to
meet this standard