TODAY’S AGENDA Tuesday 12/3
FTF (Homework Out Please!)
• Convection Currents Open Response and Worksheet
TODAY IN SCIENCE CLASS
FTF Review
Homework Review
2-column notes – Chapter 1 Section 3- powerpoint
Intro to Continental Drift – Alfred Wegener (questions)
Pangaea Puzzle (if time – probably Tomorrow)
Homework: None
SWBAT Describe what continental drift is and name the scientist who came up with the
theory.
2-Column Notes
Inside Earth: Chapter 1- Plate Tectonics
Section 3: Drifting Continents
Guide For Reading
• What is continental drift?
• Why was Alfred Wegener’s theory
rejected?
The Theory of Continental Drift
Pangaea
• The name of the single landmass that
broke apart 200 million years ago and
gave the rise to today’s continents
Continental Drift
• A hypothesis that the continents slowly
move across Earth’s surface
TODAY’S AGENDA Tuesday 12/4
FTF
Newspaper “Puzzle” Activity – Understanding Evidence
1.
Each student has 1 piece of newspaper.
2.
Carefully tear the paper into 5-8 LARGE pieces.
3.
Pass the pieces to your partner.
4.
Try to assemble the “puzzle” you were given.
5.
What evidence did you use to put the pieces of the puzzle back together? Come up
with at least 3 things you used as evidence.
TODAY IN SCIENCE CLASS
FTF Review
Evidence used by Alfred Wegener - Overview
Pangaea Mapping Activity
2-Column Notes on Evidence (if time)
Ticket Out
Homework: Open Response Essay for Quiz (due tomorrow!)
SWBAT Identify 3 types of evidence used by Wegener to support his theory of
continental drift.
What is evidence?
• Something which shows something else exists
or is true.
• A visible sign of something.
Is it Evidence?
Yes
No
Does it support the idea
that continents have
moved?
1858: Geologist Eduard Seuss points out that fossils of the
Glossopteris plant are found in southern Africa, South America,
Australia, Antarctica, and India.
Wegener examines the location of tiny rocks and the direction of
grooves formed by large glaciers scraping across southern areas of
Africa, South America, Australia, Antarctica, and India. He concludes
that if all these places were fitted together, they would form a
continuous ice sheet expanding outward in all directions.
Popular Geology magazine, March 12, 1912: “Continents are so large
They must always have been where they are.”
Wegener observes that a South American mountain range in Argentina
lines up with an ancient African mountain range in South Africa when
the two continents are placed together. He writes: “It is just as if we
were to refit the torn pieces of a newspaper by matching their edges and
then check whether the lines of print ran smoothly across. If they do,
there is no thing left but to conclude t hat t he pieces were in fact joined
in t his way.”
Is it Evidence?
Yes
No
Does it support the idea
that continents have
moved?
1927: Geologist Alexander du Toit observes rock layers on the western
coast of Africa in the following sequence: basalt rock, shale containing
fossil reptiles, coal layers containing Glossopteris fossils, rocks containing
Mesosaurus fossils, and shale. He discovers an almost identical
sequence of rock layers on the eastern coast of South America.
1944: Geologist Baily Willis calls Wegener’s theory a fairy tale. He
argues that the theory should be ignored.
1965: Geologist Edward Bullard uses computers to match coasts of
South America and Africa. They match extremely well at an ocean
depth of 1,000 meters.
Fossils of Megascolecina ear thworms are found in South America,
Africa, India, and Australia, as well as the islands of Madagascar
and New Guinea
1980s: Satellites and lasers are used to measure the movement of
continents. They continue to move at an average of about 2 cm (0.8 in)
per year.
Wegener’s Evidence
• Rock Layers
• Fossils
– Cynognathus
– Glossopteris
– Mesosaurus
• Glacial Evidence (Climate)
• Landforms and Mountain Ranges
• Shape of continents
Ticket Out
3 -2 – 1
– 3 types of evidence used to support continental
drift.
– 2 specific examples of evidence (example:
coastlines of Africa & S. America)
– 1 person who came up with the theory.
TODAY’S AGENDA Friday 12/6
FTF
1.
2.
3.
Name 3 types of evidence used by Wegener to support his theory of continental drift.
Fossil seeds of the glossopteris plant have been found on the continents of south
America and Africa. The seeds can only travel a few miles by wind. Explain how the
plant could have been in both of these places.
Coal deposits have been found beneath ice in Antarctica. But coal only forms in warm
swamps. Use Wegener’s theory to explain how coal could be found so near the South
pole.
TODAY IN SCIENCE CLASS
FTF Review
Housekeeping – return midterms and discuss.
Pangaea Mapping Activity
2-Column Notes on Evidence – to be completed after map is done
Homework: Pangaea Map and Questions due Monday
SWBAT Identify 3 types of evidence used by Wegener to support his theory of
continental drift.
Pangaea Map Activity
• You will be creating a map of Pangaea based
on fossil, rock, landform and glacial evidence
found on present day continents.
• You will examine 4 maps of modern day Earth
and transfer the data from the four maps to
the Pangaea map provided.
• On the blank map you will create a key using
the different colors to represent the different
types of evidence from the maps.
Let’s Do One Together
EVIDENCE 1. ROCK LAYERS This diagram shows matching rock layers in Africa and
South America. With a red colored pencil transfer this data to the map of Pangaea
on the attached page. Also add to key.
South America
= Rock Layers
Africa
Mapping Alfred’s Evidence
1. Complete Pre Activity Questions
2. Map all evidence – transfer evidence from
current maps to your Pangaea map.
3. Be sure to create the key for each piece of
evidence! Your key should have 6 colors and
unique pieces of evidence when complete.
4. Ask Mrs. Dean to show you the answer key
when you are done.
5. Answer post-lab questions.
= Rock Layers
= Rock Layers
= Cynognathus
= Rock Layers
= Cynognathus
= Glossopteris
= Rock Layers
= Cynognathus
= Glossopteris
= Mesosaurus
= Rock Layers
= Cynognathus
= Glossopteris
= Mesosaurus
= Glaciers
= Rock Layers
= Cynognathus
= Glossopteris
= Mesosaurus
= Glaciers
= Mountains
TODAY’S AGENDA Monday 12/9
FTF (Homework Out Please)
Complete Pangaea Mapping Activity!
TODAY IN SCIENCE CLASS
New Buddies
FTF Review
Pangaea Mapping Activity – Finish!
2-Column Notes on Evidence
Alfred Wegener Letter Assignment
Homework: Rough Draft Alfred Wegener Letter
SWBAT Identify 3 types of evidence used by Wegener to support his theory of
continental drift.
Guide For Reading: What is
Wegener’s theory of continental
drift?
• Continental drift is the
hypothesis that all the continents
had once been joined together in
a single landmass
• The continents have slowly moved
apart over Earth’s surface
2-Column Notes
and Graphic
Organizer
Graphic Organizer
Evidence From Landforms
Type of Evidence
1. Evidence from Shape
2. Evidence from
Landforms
3. Evidence from Fossils
4. Evidence from Climate
Details
Where is it found?
Evidence From Landforms
Evidence - Identical mountain
from
ranges with matching
Landforms rock layers
• Identical mountain
- South America
(Argentina) and South
Africa
N. America
and
ranges- Also
with
matching
Europe
- Coal fields on
different continents
match up identically
- South Africa and
South America (Brazil)
Matching Mountain Ranges as Evidence of Continental Drift
Several mountain chains on North
America and Eurasia, and South
America and Africa share similar
composition, structure and age.
Location of Matching Mountain Ranges
Applachian Mountains (North America)
Calendonian Mountains (Eurasia)
British Aisles Mountains (Eurasia)
Cape Mountain Range (Africa)
Sierra Range (South America)
Figure 11: Observing: Which
coastlines seem to match up like
jig-saw puzzle?
• The continents of
Africa and South
America best
match up like
jigsaw-puzzle
pieces
Figure 12: Inferring: According to
Wegener’s theory, what does the
presence of similar mountain ranges in
Africa and South America indicate?
• The presence of
similar mountain
ranges indicates
that Africa and
South America
were once joined.
Evidence From Fossils
Fossil
• Fossil: A trace of an organism that has
been preserved in rock
Fossil Evidence of Continental Drift
Name
Mesosaurus
Fresh Water Reptile
280 – 300 million years ago
Cynognathus
Prehistoric mammal
230-240 million years ago
Glossopteris
Fernlike Plant
250 million years old
Lystrosaurus
Fresh Water Reptile
250 million years ago
Image
Fossil
Location
Africa and South
America
Africa, South
America, India,
Australia, Antarctica
South America,
Africa, India,
Antarctica, Australia
Africa, India,
Antarctica
Evidence From Landforms
3.
1. Mesosaurous (fresh
-Africa and South
Evidence
water reptile)
America
from
Fossils
1. Cynognathus
America,
• Identical
mountain(early
ranges-Africa,
withSouth
matching
land mammal)
India, Australia,
Antarctica
1. Glossopteris (plant)
-South America, Africa,
India, Antarctica,
Australia
1. Lystosaurus (fresh
- Africa, India,
water reptile)
Antarctica
How did Wegener use evidence
based on fossils to support his
theory that the continents had
moved?
• Glossopteris fossils
have been found in
rocks in Africa, South
America, Australia,
India, and Antarctica
unexpectedly
• Seeds could not have
travel that far over
the oceans to reach
other continents
Evidence From Climate
Evidence From Landforms
4.
1. Fossils of Tropical
-Island of Spitsbergen
Evidence
plants found in the
from
Arctic Circle
Climate
• Identical mountain ranges-South
with Africa,
matching
2. Glacial evidence
South America,
(scratches in rock)
India, Australia
and Antarctica
What two examples of climate
change did Wegener use to support
his theory of continental drift?
• The Island of Spitsbergen (Arctic
Ocean) has evidence of tropical plants
• Deep scratches in rocks were found
in South Africa, South America,
India, Australia and Antarctica
• These scratches support evidence of
glaciers
Glacial Evidence of Continental Drift
Large ice sheets, or glaciers, that
covered parts of the earth over 250
million years ago left behind Glacial
Striations and Glacial Deposits.
Location of Glacial Evidence
South America
India
Africa
Australia
Antarctica
Checkpoint: What were the three
types of evidence Wegner used to
support his theory of continental
drift?
• Landforms
• Fossils
• Climate
Scientists Reject Wegener’s
Theory
Guide For Reading: Why was
Alfred Wegener’s theory
rejected?
• Wegener could not provide an
explanation of what force moved the
continents.
• He could not identify the cause of
continental drift
TODAY’S AGENDA Tuesday 12/10
FTF (Homework Out Please)
1.
2.
3.
List three types of evidence used by Wegener to support his
theory of continental drift?
List an example of each type and where it’s found.
Explain how this evidence supports Wegener’s theory of
continental drift.
TODAY IN SCIENCE CLASS
FTF Review
Alfred Wegener Letter Assignment - Write Rough Draft
Peer Editing of Letter!
Homework: Final Draft Letter due Friday!
SWBAT Identify 3 types of evidence used by Wegener to support his theory of
continental drift.
Alfred Wegener Essay
• Written as letter
• Written to convince colleagues of Alfred Wegener
about his theory of continental drift.
• Purpose is to demonstrate to me that you
understand how the evidence used by Wegener
supports his theory.
• It is okay to use “I” and “my” in this writing
because you are pretending to be Alfred
Wegener.
• Handwritten or typed final draft okay. Due Friday.
Letter Format
• Introduction paragraph
• 3 paragraphs
– 1 Paragraph for each type of evidence
– Paragraph MUST include where evidence is found
– Paragraph MUST include how this evidence helps
explain continental drift
• Concluding Paragraph
Let’s Start with the Intro
Example Introduction
Dear Fellow Scientists,
My name is Alfred Wegener. I have discovered something
I think you will find somewhat unbelievable. I call my
theory Continental Drift. It is the idea that at one point
the continents were all joined together in one giant
landmass called Pangaea. I have identified three types
of evidence to prove my theory: fossils, climate change,
and landforms. In this letter I will describe how I
believe these three types of evidence prove my theory.
.
Write your introduction
Dear Fellow Scientists,
1. State who you are (Alfred Wegener)
–
My name is Alfred Wegener.
2. Explain and define what theory you have discovered
(Continental Drift and Pangaea)
–
I think you will find somewhat unbelievable. I call my theory
Continental Drift. It is the idea that at one point the continents
were all joined together in one giant landmass called Pangaea.
3. Tell the reader what evidence you used (just list the 3).
–
I have identified three types of evidence to prove my theory:
fossils, climate change, and landforms.
Now You Try! Write your introduction
Let’s Write A Paragraph for Evidence
Example Paragraph 2
Evidence from fossils supports my theory. For example,
Glossopteris fossils have been found in rocks in Africa,
South America, Australia, India, and Antarctica. The seeds
from this plant are too heavy to travel by air or bird, and
too fragile to travel by the ocean. This means the only way
fossils from this plant could be located on more than one
continent is that they were once connected. Another fossil,
the Mesosaurus, were found in South America and Africa.
These animals were a freshwater animal that could not
swim in salt water, so they could not have swam from one
continent to another. Therefore, the only explanation for
them to be able is that those continents were once
connected.
Evidence Paragraphs (2-4)
1. Write what the evidence is.
–
Evidence from fossils supports my theory.
2. Write the details of the evidence
–
For example, Glossopteris fossils have been found in rocks
in Africa, South America, Australia, India, and Antarctica.
3. How does evidence connects to continental drift?
–
The seeds from this plant are too heavy to travel by air or
bird, and too fragile to travel by the ocean. This means
the only way fossils from this plant could be located on
more than one continent is that the continents were once
connected.
Example paragraph 2
A second reason supporting my theory is the
landforms found on continents. Mountain ranges
in Argentina align perfectly with a mountain
range in South Africa. The rock layers of these
mountain ranges is identical, suggesting they
were formed at the same time and in the same
exact way. The only way to explain this would be
that the continents were connected when the
mountain range was forming. I like to think of
these matching features as a torn-up newspaper.
If I put the pieces back together, the “words”
would line up perfectly.
Example Paragraph 4
The final reason supporting Pangaea is evidence of climate change
in certain places in the world. Tropical plant fossils have been found
on the island of Spitsbergen. Spitsbergen is located in the Arctic,
and the current climate in is cold and harsh. The tropical plant
fossils indicate that at one point Spitsbergen had a hot, tropical
climate. Also, deep scratches found in rocks of South Africa indicate
that glaciers once covered the land. But South Africa’s climate today
is too mild and warm for glaciers to exist. So how is this possible?
When Pangaea existed South Africa was much closer to the South
Pole and had a cold climate. These drastic climate changes
happened because of continental drift. When the continents came
together Spitsbergen was closer to the equator making it mild and
warm, and Africa was further south, causing it to become colder.
Conclusion – Paragraph 5
Although I cannot tell you the force that causes
continental drift, the evidence is very clear and
points to one conclusion: that the continents
were once all connected. Thank you for your
time, and I hope you seriously consider accepting
my theory of continental drift.
Sincerely,
Alfred Wegener
Write A Conclusion
• Restate the evidence
– Although I cannot tell you the force that causes
continental drift, the evidence from fossils,
landforms and climate is very clear and points to
one conclusion: that the continents were once all
connected.
• Ask for your theory to be accepted
– Thank you for your time, and I hope you seriously
consider accepting my theory of continental drift.