Theory of continental Drift
Teacher Notes
Overview. This activity is used to support the free USGS activity, Wegener’s Puzzling
Evidence, a free resource that is part of the publication, This Dynamic Planet. Use the link to
access that resource.
https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vsc/file_mngr/file-139/This_Dynamic_Planet-Teaching_Companion_Packet.pdf
In this activity students recreate the argument Alfred Wegener used to support his theory of
continental drift. This activity comes after the students had pieced together the continents
from the Puzzling Evidence Activity. Students create an interactive notebook foldable of
evidence and use this to create a C-E-R scientific argument with Claim, Evidence, and
Reasoning.
MS-ESS2-3.
Analyze and interpret data on the distribution of fossils and rocks,
continental shapes, and seafloor structures to provide evidence of the
past plate motions.
Materials:
- Scissors
- Colored pencils
- Glue sticks
Procedure:
1.
Students cut out and assemble the foldable – print it double sided.
2.
Students read and take note on the four types of evidence Wegener used to support his
idea of Continental Drift.
3.
Once students have notes on the four pieces of evidence, they write an argument –
Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning using 3 pieces of evidence and reasoning from their
reading notes.
I have used the reading as a jigsaw activity and had groups of students read different sections
to become experts and report back to their home groups.
Copyright 2016 Sarah’s STEM Stuff
Copyright 2016 Sarah’s STEM Stuff
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Copyright 2016 Sarah’s STEM Stuff
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Wegener’s Evidence
Just over 100 years ago in 1910, young German scientist, Alfred Wegener,
made an astonishing discovery. While looking at a world map he noticed the
coastlines of South America and Africa seemed to fit together like puzzle pieces.
Motivated by this discovery and additional evidence, he hypothesized that the
continents had once been joined in one supercontinent that he called Pangaea
and have slowly drifted to their present day locations. This idea became known
as continental drift. Wegener used the following evidence to support his theory:
Evidence from Land Features
Wegener noticed that the east coast of South America
fit neatly into the west coast of Africa. In addition, when he
pieced together maps of these two continents, he noticed the
mountain ranges on both continents line up. When he pieced
together North America and Europe, the coal fields lined up. He thought
the coal fields and mountains must have formed when the continents were
joined.
Evidence from Animal Fossils
Wegener looked through additional research and found evidence from
animal fossils to support his idea. Fossils from the reptile, the Mesosaurus, were
found in South America and parts of Africa. The Mesosaurus lived about 250
million years ago and was primarily a land animal, mainly entering fresh water
rivers and lakes to hunt. Fossils of another ancient land reptile, the Lystrosaurus
were found in Africa, India, and Antarctica. Wegener thought these reptiles could
not swam across the vast oceans so they must have lived during the time the
continents were joined in a single landmass.
Mesosaurus
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Lystrosaurus
Evidence from Plant Fossils
The fernlike tree, Glossopteris, lived about 250 million years ago.
Fossils from this plant have been found in rocks in Africa, South America,
India, and Australia. The Glossopteris seeds were quite large and would not
have been able to be carried by wind or drifting oceans to continents so far
away. Wegener thought the continents were joined when the Glossopteris
lived and it was able to spread to the different continents across the land.
Evidence from Ancient Climates
The continent of Antarctica is located at the South Pole. A place so
cold there is very little life on it. However, scientists were surprised to find
coal deposits in Antarctica. Coal forms from decomposing plants. This
means Antarctica must have had a warmer climate in its past to allow for
plants to grow, and the coal deposits to be made. Scientists believe that
Antarctica was once located closer to the equator and has drifted to its
present day location.
Wegener’s Theory was Rejected
Wegener could not sufficiently explain how the continents were
moved. Because he could not explain the cause of continental drift,
Wegener’s idea was rejected by geologists.
Copyright 2016 Sarah’s STEM Stuff
Theory of continental Drift
Name: ________________________
1
2
3
Reasoning
evidence
CLAIM
Imagine you are Alfred Wegener in 1915. Write your argument to support Continental Drift.
Include a Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning.
Copyright 2016 Sarah’s STEM Stuff
Copyright 2016 Sarah's STEM Stuff
Copyright 2016 Sarah's STEM Stuff
Copyright 2016 Sarah's STEM Stuff
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