Plate Tectonics WebQuest Plate tectonics are a very important aspect of the Earth than can cause earthquakes, mountains, islands, and more. They are constantly moving at a very slow rate around the planet. During this virtual assignment, you’ll need to log notes about your learning. Let’s begin the step-by-step process: 1) Write your answers to the questions next to the “>>” 2) Click on Link #1:Plate Tectonic Map in Schoology Begin learning about the different plates by recognizing where they are placed. Many of the plate names correspond with the continent they lie on. Figure out where they are using the map. What plate lies Northwest to the African Plate? >> What plate lies directly East to the Nazca Plate? >> What plate lies South of the Scotia Plate? >> 3) Let’s dig deeper into the plates. Read the information above the map and answer the questions to help expand your knowledge. What allows scientists to suggest where earthquakes are likely to occur? >> Click on the map to see where the earthquakes are occurring. What do you notice about where they are occurring? >> 4) Click on Link #2: Plate Tectonic Game in Schoology, you are going to click on the different “+” signs to read about how the plates are moving. Press “SEE PLATE NAMES” to see what each plate is called. After you have read about each one, answer the questions below. What are the four different types of collisions that occur between plates? >> >> >> >> Choose three plates and write one fact about each one. >> >> >> 5) View this Click on Link #3: Plate Tectonic Diagram in Schoology and answer these questions about the slide. Looking at the “Historical Seismicity” diagram, what do the different colors of the earthquakes on the map represent? >> What is the range of depth for the deepest earthquake shown on the diagram? >> The 5.1 magnitude earthquake that occurred on October 3, 2007 is represented by a star on the map. Based on the depth of the earthquake given below the diagram what color should this earthquake be designated if it were just a regular dot like all the others? a. orange b. yellow c. green d. blue e. purple What happens to the depth of the earthquakes as you move from the letter “D” to the letter “C”? >> 6) Click on Link #4 Plate Tectonic BrainPop Video in Schoology. Watch the video and answer the questions below. When you are done, answer the questions below to show your comprehension. What did Alfred Wegener call this “super continent?” >> Explain one piece of evidence about why the continents split. >> What kind of plate boundary is the Mid-Atlantic ridge? >> 7) Now we are going to review a little bit. Using the diagram below, label the different layers of the Earth based on composition. There are text boxes that you can type in. If you are having trouble, watch the Earths Layers Video in Schoology to help you. 8) Click on Link #5: Plate Tectonic Website in Schoology to read about plate tectonics. When you open it, scroll down to the “Plate Tectonics” section. Then answer the questions below to check for your understanding. What does the theory of the plate tectonics explain? >> What is the estimated speed that the plates are moving at? >> True or false? Oceanic crust is thicker than continental crust? >> Describe the physical properties of the upper and lower mantle. >> 9) Look to the right. There is a chart with different facts about oceanic and continental crust. Fill in the chart below to match the chart. Type of Crust Average Thickness Average Age Major Component Continental Crust Oceanic Crust 10) Take a little brain break! Click on Plate Tectonics Word Search in Schoology fill out the word search using words we just learned about. Look closely and have fun! 11) Click on Link #6: Plate Tectonics Interactive in Schoology, this interactive will really help you understand plate tectonics even more while you go over everything. After you open it, click on “Earth’s Structure.” Read about each layer of the Earth. One interesting fact about each layer of the Earth: >> Inner Core>> Outer Core>> Mantle>> Crust- 12) Now, click on “Plate Tectonics” at the top and answer the true or false questions about Alfred Wegener below. True or False? Alfred Wegener studied genetics in plants and animals. >> Alfred Wegener noticed that a lot of geological formations match up. >> Alfred Wegener wrote a book called The Origin of Continents and Oceans. >> Other scientists accepted Alfred Wegener’s ideas right away. >> 13) Good job! You’re almost done. Let’s move on to the next section. Click on “Plates and Boundaries.” After you have read the page, match the pictures below. You can draw lines from the words to the boxes or re-write the words so that they are directly above the boxes. a. Convergent b. Divergent c. Transform 14) At the bottom of the “Plates and Boundaries” page, click on “Plates and Boundaries Challenge” to see how many plates you recognize. When you get a score you are happy with, record it below. Score: >> _____________ 15) Have you ever seen a volcano? This next section, “Slip, Slide, and Collide” will explain why volcanoes occur. After you have read the information on the first page, scroll to the bottom to read more about different plate boundaries. Select each label and read about each part. Answer the questions below when you are done. Define lithosphere >> What is the area where one plate is being pulled under the edge of another? >> Define trench >> What is the Earth’s crust that makes up the continents? >> Good job! Continue reading the rest of that page before you move on to the last part! Make sure you read it carefully so that you fully understand how everything works. 16) To test your knowledge, click on “Test Skills” and take the assessment. When you are done, write down what you got in the box below. Score: >> _____________
