CURRICULUM TOOL: GEOLOGIC PROCESSES
PLATE TECTONICS
NYS Earth Science Core Curriculum
Curriculum-Based Questions
Performance Indicator 2.1 Use the concepts of density and heat energy to explain
observations of weather patterns, seasonal changes, and the movements of Earth’s
plates.
Major Understandings:
2.1k The outward transfer of Earth’s internal heat drives convective circulation in
the mantle that moves the lithospheric plates comprising Earth’s surface.
2.1l The lithosphere consists of separate plates that ride on the more fluid
asthenosphere and move slowly in relationship to one another, creating
convergent, divergent, and transform plate boundaries. These motions indicate
Earth is a dynamic geologic system.
 These plate boundaries are the sites of most earthquakes, volcanoes, and
young mountain ranges.
 Compared to continental crust, ocean crust is thinner and denser. New
ocean crust continues to form at mid-ocean ridges.
 Earthquakes and volcanoes present geologic hazards to humans. Loss of
property, personal injury, and loss of life can be reduced by effective
emergency preparedness.
2.1m Many processes of the rock cycle are consequences of plate dynamics.
These include the production of magma (and subsequent igneous rock formation
and contact metamorphism) at both subduction and rifting regions, regional
metamorphism within subduction zones, and the creation of major depositional
basins through down-warping of the crust.
2.1n Many of Earth’s surface features such as mid-ocean ridges/rifts,
trenches/subduction zones/island arcs, mountain ranges (folded, faulted, and
volcanic), hot spots, and the magnetic and age patterns in surface bedrock are a
consequence of forces associated with plate motion and interaction.
2.1o Plate motions have resulted in global changes in geography, climate, and
the patterns of organic evolution.
High School of Language and Innovation 2012 (draft)
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How are the plates defined and why do they
move?
What are the characteristics of each of the major
boundary types?
How does density affect the creation of trenches,
ridges, and mountains?
What evidences convinced scientists that the
continents were once connected? Why aren’t
they connected now?
How are plate tectonics represented in the
Reference Table? Complete one Internal
Structure assignment from the Geologic
Processes Binder.
Earth Science Reference Table pg. 5
(related pages: 1, 10, 11)
Some Past Part B-1, B-2, C Questions
August 2012 Question 41, 59, 60, 61
June 2012 Question 55, 58, 66, 67
January 2012 Question 60, 61, 62
*Released Regents Tests:
http://www.nysedregents.org/earthscience/
CURRICULUM TOOL: GEOLOGIC PROCESSES
PLATE TECTONICS
Some Past Part A Questions
1. Which surface feature was produced by crustal movements at a transform plate boundary?
(1) East African Rift
(3) Tasman Hot Spot
(2) Aleutian Trench
(4) San Andreas Fault
2. Which cross section best represents the convection currents in the mantle beneath the Peru-Chile Trench?
Resources for Learning
Readings
Holt (yellow book) pg.
239-246 (continental
drift), 247-260
(boundaries)
Glencoe (big blue book)
pg. 455-459
(boundaries), 467
McGuire (little blue book)
pg. 335-341
(continental drift), 341343 (plate tectonics),
347-352 (plate
boundaries)
Unison Reading Binder:
Geologic Processes
Websites
Videos
In-Class
Activities
Regents Exam Prep Center: Earth Science
http://regentsprep.org/Regents/earthsci/units/
earthquakes/index.cfm
Geology: Plate Tectonics
http://www.hmxearthscience.com/plate_tecto
nics.html
How do plate move?
http://www.windows2universe.org/earth/interi
or/how_plates_move.html&edu=high
Regents Review Materials
http://reviewearthscience.com/
http://regentsearth.com/
Greatest Discoveries: Plate Tectonics
http://science.discovery.com/tv-shows/greatest-discoveries/videos/100greatest-discoveries-plate-tectonics.htm
Plate Tectonics
http://www.brainpop.com/science/earthsystem/platetectonics/
Plate Tectonics
http://teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?title=Plate_Tectonics&video_id=17144
Geologic Processes
Binder
Foreign Language:
¿Cómo se Mueven las Placas?
http://www.windows2universe.org/earth/interi
or/how_plates_move.html&edu=high&lang=sp
ed_intro.html&edu=high&lang=sp
High School of Language and Innovation 2012 (draft)
At Home:
Divergent Plate Boundaries
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1r5G-UG_N8
Reference Table Tectonic Plates Map
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeOyhEqdIq4
Transform Boundaries and Hot Spots
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoB5BHk3D94
Theory of Continental Drift
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhzzMGYSsbE
Convergent Plate Boundaries
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRekFH7EnU4
Boundary
Comparisons
Plate Tectonics
Memory
CURRICULUM TOOL: GEOLOGIC PROCESSES
PLATE TECTONICS
High School of Language and Innovation 2012 (draft)