10
Science
Quarter 1
Self Learning Module 7
Continental Drift
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Science - Grade 10
Quarter 1
Self Learning Module 7 – Continental Drift
Second Edition, 2021
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I Need to Know
This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to help you
enumerate the lines of evidence that support plate movement (S10ES –Ia-j-36.6)
The scope of this module allows you to use it in many different learning situations.
The language used recognizes the diverse vocabulary level of students. The lessons
are arranged to follow the standard sequence of the course. But the order in which
you read them can be changed to correspond with the textbook you are now using.
This module will discuss lesson on Continental Drift.
After going through this module, you are expected to
1. enumerate the lines of evidence that support the continental drift,
and
2. discuss the evidences that supports the continental drift theory.
Lesson
Continental Drift
Lesson Overview
Today, most people know that landmasses on Earth move around, but people
haven’t always believed this. It wasn’t until the early 20th century that German
scientist Alfred Wegener put forth the idea that the Earth’s continents were drifting.
He called this movement Continental Drift. In this module you are going to learn
one of Wegener’s greatest observations on continental drift hypothesis.
Wegener said that continents move around on Earth’s surface and that they
were once joined together as a single supercontinent. While Wegener was alive,
scientists did not believe that the continents could move. He proposed that the
continents were once united into a single supercontinent named Pangaea, meaning
all earth in ancient Greek. He suggested that Pangaea broke up long ago and that the
continents then moved to their current positions. He called his hypothesis continental
drift.
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Figure 1. The Break up of Pangaea
Besides the way the continents fit together, Wegener and his supporters
collected a great deal of evidence for the continental drift hypothesis. For one, identical
rocks of the same type and age are found on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.
Wegener said the rocks had formed side-by-side and that the land had since moved
apart.
Mountain ranges with the same rock types, structures, and ages are now on
opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean. The Appalachians of the eastern United States
and Canada, for example, are just like mountain ranges in eastern Greenland, Ireland,
Great Britain, and Norway. Wegener concluded that they formed as a single mountain
range that was separated as the continents drifted.
Ancient fossils of the same species of extinct plants and animals are found in
rocks of the same age but are on continents that are now widely separated. Wegener
proposed that the organisms had lived side by side, but that the lands had moved
apart after they were dead and fossilized. He suggested that the organisms would not
have been able to travel across the oceans. For example, the fossils of the seed
fern Glossopteris were too heavy to be carried so far by wind. The reptile
Mesosaurus could only swim in fresh water. Cynognathus and Lystrosaurus were
land reptiles and were unable to swim.
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Figure 2. Fossils of Ancient Plants and Animals
Grooves and rock deposits left by ancient glaciers are found today on different
continents very close to the equator. This would indicate that the glaciers either formed
in the middle of the ocean and/or covered most of the Earth.
Today glaciers only form on land and nearer the poles. Wegener thought that
the glaciers were centered over the southern land mass close to the South Pole and
the continents moved to their present positions later on. Coral reefs and coal-forming
swamps are found in tropical and subtropical environments, but ancient coal seams
and coral reefs are found in locations where it is much too cold today. Wegener
suggested that these creatures were alive in warm climate zones and that the fossils
and coal later had drifted to new locations on the continents.
Although Wegener’s evidence was sound, most geologists at the time rejected
his hypothesis of continental drift. Scientists argued that there was no way to explain
how solid continents could plow through solid oceanic crust. Wegener’s idea was
nearly forgotten until technological advances presented even more evidence that the
continents moved and gave scientists the tools to develop a mechanism for Wegener’s
drifting continents.
Activity 1 would allow you to investigate the presented study of Wegener and
enumerate the lines of evidence that support the continental drift theory. Let’s get to
know them.
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I Will Do
Activity 1: Connect the Continents!
Study the illustration of Gondwanaland and read the selection below.
Figure 3. Gondwanaland
Gondwanaland or “Gondwana” is the name for the southern half of the
Pangean supercontinent that existed some 300 million years ago. Gondwanaland is
composed of the major continental blocks of South America, Africa, Arabia,
Madagascar, Sri Lanka, India, Antartica and Australia. The name “Gondwana” is
derived from a tribe in India (Gonds) and “wana” meaning “land of.” It is superficially
divided into a western half (Africa and South America) and an eastern half (India, Sri
Lanka, Madagascar, Antartica and Australia).
How did the continents move apart? Scientists believe that North America
drifted toward the northwest. Eurasia turned 20º clockwise as it moved northward.
Africa and South America broke apart, forming the Atlantic Ocean. Africa turned
counter clockwise and moved eastward, while South America moved westward. India
separated from Antarctica and Africa, and then moved northeastward. Then India
collided with Asia. Australia, once joined to Antarctica, broke off and drifted eastward.
The lines of evidence that support this idea are as follows:
 The facing coastlines of Africa and South America reasonably match;
 The fossils found along the matching coastline are similar;
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



Geologic features such as mountain ranges and faults from separate continents
line up along the matching coastlines;
The type and age of rocks along the matching coastlines are similar;
Layers of coal in Antarctica indicate that it was once closer to the tropics;
Deposits of glaciers match along the continental coastlines; the direction of ice
movement is also consistent.
Materials
Gondwanaland
scissors
World Map
Puzzle map
glue or paste
old folder/ card board
coloring materials
Procedures
1. In your Gondwanaland Puzzle Map, identify and label the continents as South
America, Antarctica, Australia, Africa and India.
2. Cut out the continent shapes and try to paste them together in the folder/ card
board and match up the fossil evidence to form the Gondwanaland.
Note: Be careful in using the scissors.
3. Color the mountain belt and fossil evidence based from the legend provided.
Legend:
European Flora - Green
Glossopteris - Yellow
Mesosaurus - Blue
Cynognathus - Orange
Lystrosauros - Brown
Mountain Belt - Black
Analysis Questions
1. What is the name of the continent formed by combining all the continents in
the puzzle?
A. continental drift
B. glacier scaring
C. Gondwanaland
D. plate tectonics
2. What have you noticed with the shape of the continents?
A. The continents look like a maze that is connected.
B. The continents look like a house with different rooms.
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C. The continents look like a pie that is cut into equal sizes.
D. The continents look like a jigsaw puzzle that seems to fit each other.
3. Which two (2) continents have the most obvious fit of the coastlines?
A. Antarctica and Africa
B. Africa and North America
C. Africa and South America
D. South America and Europe
4. How the fossil evidence helped you connect the continents together?
A. Different fossils are found along continental margins that appear to join
together, that give us clue to separate the continents easily.
B. Similar fossils are found along continental margins that appear to join
together, that give us clue to separates the continents easily.
C. Similar fossils are found along continental margins that appear to join
together, that give us clue to connect the continents easily.
D. Variety of fossils are found along continental margins that appear to join
together, that give us clue to connect the continents easily
5. Which fossil occurs on the most landmasses?
A. Cynognathus
B. Glossopteris
C. Lystrosaurus
D. Mesosaurus
I Will Practice
Unscramble the letters to form the correct terms related to continental drift.
Write your answer on a separate sheet.
1. an extinct mammal-like reptile whose fossils
are only found in South Africa and South America
2. the largest continental area on Earth,
comprising all of Europe and Asia
3. a supercontinent that existed during the late
Paleozoic and early Mesozoic eras.
4. the southern half of the Pangaean
supercontinent
5. any preserved remains, impression, or trace of
any once-living thing from a past geological age
I Will Apply
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SNOGTHUANYC
RAUSERIA
NEAGAAP
GANANDNDALOW
LISSOF
The figure shows Earth’s ancient supercontinent as it appeared about 300
million years ago, according to Alfred Wegener. Write the letter that represents each
of the following present-day continents.
A
B
D
C
F
E
_____ Africa
_____Antarctica
_____ Europe and Asia
_____ North America
_____Australia
_____ India
_____ South America
References
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Alumaga, M. et al. 2014. Science and Technology 10. Quezon City: Vibal Group, Inc.
pages 20-21
Decella, C. 2009. High School Science Today. Marikina City: Diwa Learning
Systems Inc. pages 199-200
https://letstalkscience.ca/educational-resources/backgrounders/continental-drift-andplate-tectonics
(Accessed Date: August 14, 2021)
http://www.phschool.com/itext/sci_exp/iText/products/0-13-1812432/ch1/ch1_s3_3.html
(Accessed Date: August 14, 2021)
https://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dynamic/historical.html (Accessed Date: August 14, 2021)
https://wps.prenhall.com/esm_tarbuck_escience_11/32/8321/2130415.cw/content/in
dex.html
(Accessed Date: August 14, 2021)
https://www.google.com/search?q=pangaea&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2a
hUKEwjg_qbubfpAhXG62EKHW58CUYQ_AUoAXoECBQQAw&biw=1366&bih=629
#imgrc=6tv18SWaPZIGIM
(Accessed Date: August 14, 2021)
https://www.yourdictionary.com/pangaea (Accessed Date: August 14, 2021)
https://www.npsd.k12.nj.us/cms/lib04/NJ01001216/Centricity/Domain/221/Pangaea
%20lab%20activity%202016.pdf
(Accessed Date: August 14, 2021)
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pangaea_colors.svg
(Accessed Date: August 14, 2021)
https://www.countries-ofthe-world.com/continents-of-the-world.html
(Accessed Date: August 14, 2021)
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pangaea_to_present.gif
(Accessed Date: August 14, 2021)
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Laurasia-Gondwana.svg
(Accessed Date: August 14, 2021)
https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vsc/file_mngr/file-139/This_Dynamic_PlanetTeaching_Companion_Packet.pdf
(Accessed Date: June 10, 2020)
https://www.npsd.k12.nj.us/cms/lib04/NJ01001216/Centricity/Domain/221/Pangaea
%20lab%20activity%202016.pdf
(Accessed Date: June 10, 2020)
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pangaea_continents.svg
(Accessed Date: August 14, 2021)
Answer Key
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I Will Do
1. C- Gondwanaland
2. D- The continents look like
jigsaw puzzle that seems to
fit each other.
3. C - Africa and South America
4. C -Similar fossils are found
along continental margins
that appear to join together,
that give us clue to connect
the continents easily.
5. B -Glossopteris
I Will Practice
1. Cynognathus
2. Eurasia
3. Pangaea
4. Gondwanaland
5. Fossil
Gondwanaland Puzzle Map
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I Will Apply
D Africa
E Antarctica
G Australia
A Europe & Asia
F India
B North America
C South America
Template No. 1- Gondwanaland Puzzle Map
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Written Assessment No. 7 Worksheet
Concept Check
Name: _______________________________ Grade & Section: ___________
Part I. Multiple Choice. Read each item carefully. Select the letter of the best answer
1. Which evidence did Wegener NOT use to support his idea of continental
drift?
A. The thickness in the layers of ice in Antarctic.
B. Rock strata on different continents lined up when coastlines were
matched up.
C. Mountain ranges on different continents lined up when coastlines were
matched up.
D. Fossils of plants and animals in climates where their survival would have
been impossible.
2. Which is the supercontinent landmass that formed million years ago?
A. Australia
B. Eurasia
C. Pantallasa
D. Pangaea
3. How do the mountain ranges located on both side of Atlantic Ocean supports
the continental drift theory?
A. They have the same height and width.
B. They are just separate mountain ranges.
C. They both have ancient fossil and coal seams.
D. They both have the same rock types, structures and ages.
4. Which is the greatest contribution of Alfred Wegener in science that paved
way in the study of plate movement?
A. Cell Theory
B. Big bang Theory
C. Geocentric Theory
D. Continental Drift Theory
5. According to Wegener’s hypothesis of continental drift,
A. The continents do not move.
B. Earth is slowly cooling and shrinking.
C. Earth’s surface is made up of seven major landmasses.
D. The continents were once joined together in a single landmass.
6. Most geologists rejected Alfred Wegener’s idea of continental drift because
A. The geologists were afraid of a new idea.
B. Wegener used different evidences to support his hypothesis.
C. Wegener was interested in Earth was like millions of years ago.
D. Wegener could not identify a force that could move the continents.
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7. In order to support his hypothesis, Alfred Wegener provided evidence from
_____________, traces of ancient organisms in rock.
A. climate
B. fossils
C. landmasses
D. rocks
8. Which is the fern-like fossil used by Wegener to prove that the continents
used to be part of a supercontinent?
A. Cynognathus
B. Glossopteris
C. Lystrosaurus
D. Mesosaurus
9. Which glacier scars were found in Africa that proved the hypothesis of
Wegener correct?
A. The continents have not moved.
B. Africa has always been near the equator.
C. Africa had experience sea floor spreading.
D. Africa was once in an area of the Earth that had a very cold climate.
10. Which was Wegener's continental drift idea?
A. The continents have been increasing over time.
B. The continents have moved slowly apart to their current locations.
C. The continents have always been located at their current locations.
D. The continents are moving slowly together from their current locations.
Part II. Enumeration.
The following are the lines of evidence that support plate movement:
1
2
3
4
5
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Reflection Question:
Since the continents are still drifting apart, what do we expect to happen million years
from now?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
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Answer Key to Concept Check
FOR TEACHER’S USE ONLY. Do not attach this portion to the SLM for students.
I. Multiple Choice
1. A
2. D
3. B
4. D
5. D
6. D
7. B
8. B
9. D
10. B
II. Enumeration
1. The facing coastlines of Africa and South America reasonably match
2. The fossils found along the matching coastlines are similar
3. Geologic features from separate continents line up along the matching
coastlines
4. The type and age of rocks along the matching coastlines are similar
5. Layers of coal in Antarctica indicate that it was once closer to the
tropics
6. Deposits of glaciers match along continental coastlines; the direction of
ice movement is also consistent.
Reflection
A million years from now, we would expect that the position of the
continents will change.
For inquiries or feedback, please write or call:
Department of Education – SDO-Bacolod City
(Office Address): Rosario-San Juan Sts., Brgy. 14, 6100, Bacolod City
Telefax:
Email Address: bacolod.city@deped.gov.ph
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