Download Slide 1 - Stacy DeWeerd

Plate Boundaries
Based on Michigan GLCEs for a 6th grade audience
What are plates?
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The earth’s crust (also called
the lithosphere) is broken up
into many “puzzle pieces”.
These puzzle pieces are called
tectonic plates.
The plates are constantly
moving over the liquid mantle
of the earth. (On average,
plates move about 2 cm per
year.)
Three Types of Boundaries
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Plate boundaries are named for the way that
they move.
There are three types of boundaries;
convergent, divergent, and transform.
 Convergent
plates move TOWARD each other.
 Divergent plates move AWAY from each other.
 Transform plates SLIDE past each other.
Map of the world’s plate boundaries
Convergent Plates
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Convergent plates
move TOWARD each
other.
They can cause the
formation of ocean
trenches, mountain
ranges and sometimes,
volcanoes.
Divergent Boundaries
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Divergent plates
move AWAY from
each other.
They can cause the
formation of midocean ridges.
Transform Boundaries
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Transform boundaries
SLIDE past one
another.
Most often the friction
created by the rock
sliding back and forth
results in
earthquakes.
One of the most famous transform
boundaries has created the San
Andreas Fault in California.
Are you ready to practice?
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What are the three types of plate
boundaries?
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Away, toward, past
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Mountains, volcanoes, earthquakes
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Convergent, divergent, transform
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Convergent, transfer, driven
What way do convergent
boundaries move?
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Toward each other
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Away from each other
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Past each other
What way do divergent
boundaries move?
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Toward each other
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Away from each other
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Past each other
What way do transform
boundaries move?
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Toward each other
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Away from each other
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Past each other
Volcanoes are usually caused
by…
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Transform boundaries
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Divergent boundaries
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Convergent boundaries
Mid-ocean ridges are usually a
result of a …
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Divergent boundary
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Transform boundary
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Convergent boundary
Earthquakes occur when tension
in the rocks builds up at a …
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Divergent boundary
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Convergent boundary
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Transform boundary
WELL DONE!