Dynamic Earth Project
You are a seismologist who has just returned back from your journey to the center of the earth with Trevor
and his crew. You have seen so many things that no other human has seen before that you are now an expert
on earth’s interior. When you get back to Earth’s surface there is only one problem… you have traveled back in
time to 1915!
You tell the people on Earth what you have been through and you are famous! Everyone thinks what you have
done is incredible. One person is especially impressed with your journey to the center of the earth and needs
your help. His name is Alfred Wegener and he needs you to use your knowledge about seismic waves and
earth’s interior to help him defend his theory of continental drift. Most scientists of the day laugh in his face,
but you know that his theory is widely accepted and believed to be true in 2017. Your assignment is to help
Alfred Wegener defend his theory of continental drift in front of a panel of scientists.
You will do this by making a model of Earth’s interior based off of what you saw during your journey to the
center of the earth and your knowledge as a seismologist. You will use this model to help explain to the panel
of scientists the evidence that explains why the theory of continental drift is believed to be true. Your model
must include the following:
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A diagram of the 4 layers of the earth
Label the 4 layers of the earth with:
o Name of each layer
o Density of each layer
o Is it solid, liquid or gas
o Show convection currents
3 types of seismic waves (diagrammed as arrows)
The supercontinent Pangea
o Label the continents of today
o Show how they move apart using pull tabs
You will also submit a scientific paper to be peer reviewed and published by the best scientific magazine of
1915, Scientific American. This paper will explain the following in order to defend Alfred Wegener’s Theory:
o The theory of plate tectonics
o Evidence that supports continental drift
o A labeled map of the major and minor plates known in 2017
If you are successful, you will literally change history books! Alfred Wegener will go down in history as a
brilliant man, instead of dying while everyone thinks he is crazy. I’m sure there will be room in the history
books for you, as well! Good Luck!