Yakima WATERS Mini Lesson
Learning Plate Tectonics Using Paper Models
Targets and Assessment
WA Science Standards Addressed:
 Grade 6-8 ES2-E: Students understand the
different components that the Earth is made up
of, the crust, the mantle and the core.

Grade 6-8 ES2-F: Students understand that the
earth is made up of crustal plates that are moved
and pushed by convection of the mantle.
Assessments:
 The final product of this lesson is a poster with
two maps, one of Pangaea and one of present-day
Earth. The plates are color-coded and the kids will
write up a paragraph about the theory of
continental drift and supporting evidence of that
theory.
Lesson Parameters
Content Area: Earth Science
Overview: The lesson covers the basics of plate tectonics
and the theory of continental drift.
Grade Level: 7th grade
Suggested Time: 2 sessions each 90 minutes
Special Materials:
 Tectonic Plate worksheet
 Pangaea worksheet
 Plate Tectonics Video
Learning Outcomes:
Knowledge: Know that plates move, describe what Pangaea was and the theory of continental drift. Be
able to explain the evidence that geologist have found that supports continental drift.
Skill: Identify the tectonic plates. Be able to explain that the plates do not just include the continents
but rather the continent and the ocean that is sitting on top of it.
Science Concept Background:
Plate Tectonics – the theory of continental drift. The lesson includes the discussion of Pangaea, the
supercontinent of 250 million years ago. We will show a video that depicts evidence that supports continental
drift, such as fossil evidence, and climatic evidence (ice sheet in Africa near equator).
Materials:
Color pencils
Scissors
Glue
Construction Paper
Procedure:
Key question: What is continental drift?
The students are given two worksheets, on that has all the plates as we currently know them today, and one
of the continents that were molded together to make Pangaea. The students have to cut out the plates and
color code them. They put one map together that shows what the world looks like now, and map that shows
what the world looked like 250 million years ago. They put both on the construction paper to make a poster.
They have to write two paragraphs explaining how the world went from Pangaea to as we know it today and
what evidence there is to support the idea.
Teaching Tips:
The kids had trouble understanding the plate was its own entity and not just a continent. The color-coding
helped them understand than a plate includes all of the landmass and ocean sitting on top of it.
Supplements:
www.usgs.gov/earthquakes
“Plate Tectonics” Video
Author: Sarah Nagorsen, Yakima WATERS Project, CWU, Fall 2009