January Earth Science Lesson Plans
Date
Objectives
Activities
Standards
1/4, 1/5
Mon/Tues

Identify the evidence for
continental drift.
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
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
 Begin Plate Puzzle Activity

MSCS 4: BM 4
1/6, 1/7
Wed/Thurs

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.


MSCS 4: BM 1


MSCS 4: BM 1
MSCS 1: BM 1, 2

1/8, 1/11
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,
MSCS= Montana Science Content Standard

Finish Plate Puzzle Activity
- Label convergent, divergent, and transform-fault
boundaries. Locate and label the Himalayas,
Andes, Rocky Mountains, Marianas Trench, East
African Rift, Aleutian Islands, and Hawaii
Read 9.2 and complete question sheet (20 mins)Evidence for Plate Tectonics
HW: 9.3 Worksheet



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
BM= Benchmark
and continental-continental
convergent boundaries.
1/12, 1/13
Tues/Wed

Compare the mechanisms of
slab-pull and ridge-push as
contributing to plate motion.

Discuss how mantle convection
causes plates to move.





MSCS 4: BM 1
MSCS 1: BM 2, 3
Test Review (30 mins)- Review Game
-Bingo
Plate Tectonics Test
8.1 Question Sheet

MSCS 4: BM 1
Intro to earthquakes- discussion
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


MSCS 4: BM 1
MSCS 1: 2, 3
Review types of plate boundaries and go over homework
(15 mins)- Divergent, convergent, and transform fault
boundaries
Notes/discussion- Mechanisms of Plate Tectonics (30 mins)
Review worksheet
HW: Test next class period
1/14, 1/15
Thurs/Fri
1/18, 1/19
Mon/Tues
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
1/20, 1/21
Wed/Thurs




Evaluate student
understanding- Plate
Tectonics

Compare and contrast the
epicenter and focus of an
earthquake
Identify the cause of
earthquakes.
Compare and contrast
aftershocks and foreshocks


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.
MSCS= Montana Science Content Standard



HW: 8.2 Question Sheet
 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)
BM= Benchmark
1/25, 1/26
Mon/Tues

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
1/27, 1/28
Wed/Thurs

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






1/29, 2/1
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.

MSCS= Montana Science Content Standard
BM= Benchmark