Download Snack Tectonics-Honors

Advanced Ninth Grade Science
On Earth, there are 3 main types of plate boundaries. These help to shape the way
our planet looks as well as to recycle the crust. These plate boundaries are
responsible for many geologic features we see and experience. Today, you will use
food items to represent the different plate boundaries.
Objective: To determine how the different plate boundaries function
Procedure:
1.
Each group will be using the following materials: Icing, Fruit Roll Ups, Graham Crackers
Identify the role each food item will play in the boundaries by completing the key.
2. Begin constructing the four models: Divergent Boundary, Convergent Boundaries
between a continental and an oceanic plate, Convergent Boundaries between 2
continental plates, and a Transform Boundary.
3. As you construct the model, look at it from the side as well as from above. Consider
what is happening to the frosting and to the solid crust. Draw a cross section of the
model, draw arrows to indicate the movement of the plates and write facts to remember
for each plate boundary. Be specific as these will serve to supplement your notes for
the plate boundaries.
4. Answer the questions and complete the conclusion.
Key:
Item
Frosting
Graham Crackers
Fruit Roll Ups
What it represents
Data:
Boundary
What did it look like?
Direction of
movement
Facts to remember
1. Divergent
2. ContinentalOceanic
Convergence
3. ContinentalContinental
Convergence
4. Transform
Analysis Questions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
What happens to the frosting and the fruit roll ups at a divergent boundary?
What geologic process is represented between the frosting & fruit roll ups in the first model?
What happens between the fruit roll up and the graham cracker in the second model?
How did model 2 demonstrate subduction? What is subduction? Why is the oceanic plate
subducted?
What happened between the graham crackers in the third model?
What features are formed when 2 continental plates converge?
What happened between the graham crackers in the fourth model? Did they move easily or
was there resistance?
What occurs at transform boundaries?
Conclusion: What was learned about the plate boundaries? How does
density play a role in plate tectonics? Elaborate on all learning through this
experience and other class activities dealing with plate boundaries. Provide
facts and details that indicate a complete and thorough understanding of
how plates move and how each plate boundary works.