January Earth Science Lesson Plans
Date
Objectives
Activities
Standards
1/5, 1/6
Mon/Tues

Chapter 12 Assessment

Test (45 mins)- Geologic Time, Relative Dating,
Absolute Dating, Fossils
 9.1 Plate Tectonics reading worksheet
 Plate Tectonics Intro video
 9.1 Notes and discussion (40 mins)
 Wegener’s continental drift hypothesis, Pangaea,
Evidence for continental drift: continental puzzle,
matching fossils, matching rock types and
structures, ancient climates

MSCS 4: BM 4
1/7, 1/8
Wed/Thurs

Identify the types of plate
boundaries
Model ways plates interact at
plate boundaries
Contrast the different types of
plate boundaries and the
products of these plate
interactions


Plate Puzzle Activity
Read 9.2 and complete question sheet (20 mins)Plate tectonics, types of plate boundaries, etc.

MSCS 4: BM 1


Review continental drift and plate tectonics (10 mins)
Discuss/Notes- Actions at Plate Boundaries- (35 mins)Types of Plate Boundaries: Divergent Boundaries- Oceanic
Ridges and Seafloor Spreading, Continental Rifts.
Convergent Boundaries: Oceanic-continental, Oceanicoceanic, Continental-continental. Transform Fault
Boundaries
A Model of Three Faults activity (30 mins)- USGS activity


MSCS 4: BM 1
MSCS 1: BM 1, 2


1/9, 1/12
Fri/Mon

Identify the three types of plate
boundaries
 Discuss how seafloor spreading
and continental rifting cause
formation of new lithosphere
 Describe the process of
lithospheric destruction at
subduction zones.
 Differentiate between
subduction at oceaniccontinental, oceanic-oceanic,
and continental-continental
convergent boundaries.
MSCS= Montana Science Content Standard

HW: 9.3 worksheet
BM= Benchmark
1/13, 1/14
Tues/Wed


Discuss what paleomagnetism is
and explain how
paleomagnetism and magnetic
reversals provide evidence that
supports the theory of plate
tectonics.
Evaluate how earthquakes,
ocean drilling, and hot spots
provide evidence that supports
the theory of plate tectonics.



Review types of plate boundaries and go over homework
(15 mins)- Divergent, convergent, and transform fault
boundaries
Notes/discussion- Testing Plate Tectonics (30 mins)
Evidence for plate tectonics: Paleomagnetism, Earthquake
Patterns, Ocean Drilling, Hot Spots- Yellowstone and
Hawaii


MSCS 4: BM 1
MSCS 1: BM 2, 3

MSCS 4: BM 1
HW: 9.4 Worksheet
1/15, 1/16
Thurs/Fri


Compare the mechanisms of
slab-pull and ridge-push as
contributing to plate motion.

Discuss how mantle convection
causes plates to move.
Notes/discussion- Mechanisms of Plate Motion (30
mins)- Slab-pull and ridge-push, Mantle Convection
Test Review (30 mins)- Review Game
-Bingo
HW: Test next class period
1/19, 1/20
Mon/Tues


1/21, 1/22
Wed/Thurs



Evaluate student
understanding- Plate
Tectonics
Compare and contrast the
epicenter and focus of an
earthquake
Compare and contrast the
epicenter and focus of an
earthquake.
Identify the cause of
earthquakes.
Compare and contrast
aftershocks and foreshocks




Review- Plate Tectonics
Plate Tectonics Test
8.1 Question Sheet
Intro to earthquakes- discussion

MSCS 4: BM 1

PowerPoint Notes/Discussion- 8.1 “What is an
Earthquake?” (30 mins)- Definition: Focus and
epicenter, Faults , Cause of Earthquakes- discussion of
1906 San Francisco earthquake, Elastic Rebound
Hypothesis- Review potential energy, Aftershocks and
Foreshocks
Discussion- Haiti (15 mins)- Pictures and videos,
Aftershocks and foreshocks, Focus and epicenter

MSCS 4: BM 1

HW: 8.2 Question Sheet
MSCS= Montana Science Content Standard
BM= Benchmark
1/26, 1/27
Mon/Tues



1/28, 1/29
Wed/Thurs




1/30, 2/2

Identify the 3 types of seismic
waves.
Explain how to locate the
epicenter of an earthquake.
Describe the different ways
earthquakes are measured.
Describe the factors
contributing to earthquake
damage.
Identify the 3 types of seismic
waves.
Explain how to locate the
epicenter of an earthquake.
Describe the different ways
earthquakes are measured.
Describe the factors
contributing to earthquake
damage.
Design and build the most
structurally efficient building









MSCS= Montana Science Content Standard
Review: focus, epicenter, faults, causes, etc.
Notes/Discussion- 8.2 (30 mins)- Earthquake waves,
Locating an earthquake, Measuring earthquakes,
Aftershocks and Foreshocks
Locating the epicenter activity (30 mins)


Discuss Notes from last class (10 mins)- Earthquake
waves, Locating an earthquake, Measuring
earthquakes, Aftershocks and Foreshocks
Notes/Discussion (20 mins)- Destruction from
Earthquakes, Building Structures, Liquefaction,
Tsunamis, Landslides, Fire, Predicting Earthquakes
Building Earthquake-Resistant Structures Activity (30
mins)- Outline design- get it approved!
MSCS 4: BM 1
Discuss building designs- structural efficiency (10
mins)
Earthquake Resistant Building Activity (65 mins)-Build
Earthquake-Resistant Building
MSCS 4: BM 1
MSCs 1: BM 1, 2, 3
Follow guidelines, 200 Popsicle stick maximum, height
requirement, etc.
BM= Benchmark
MSCS 4: BM 1
MSCS 1: 2, 3