Plate Tectonics Lab: Snicker’s Science Teacher
Question: Can you use a Snicker’s candy bar to model the Theory of Plate Tectonics?
Background Information: Plate tectonics is the theory that the lithosphere is divided into tectonic plates that
move around on top of the asthenosphere. Tectonic plate boundaries are divided into three types: convergent,
divergent, and transform. The type of boundary depends on how the tectonic plates move relative to one another.
Tectonic plates can collide with, pull away from, or slide past each other. One possible driving force of tectonic plate
movement is the process of convection within the asthenosphere. The slow movement of the solid rock in the
asthenosphere is caused by density changes. Density changes are caused by the outward flow of thermal energy
from deep within the Earth. When rock is heated, it expands, becomes less dense, and rises to the surface, as it gets
near the surface, the rock cools, becomes more dense, and sinks back down. This process of convection within the
asthenosphere is believed to drive the tectonic plates above it to move relative to the convection currents below.
Materials: ½ Snicker’s candy bar (get regular size bars and with wrapper on, cut in half)
Procedure:
1. Wash your hands before touching the candy bar.
2. Observe the open end of the candy bar.
 Draw a cross section view of the candy bar and label
according to Earth’s structure layers.
3. Use your fingernail to make a few breaks in the “crust”
or top of the candy bar.
 What type of strain occurred due to the stress placed on
the “crust” by your fingernail? ______faulting________
4. Slowly and gently pull on the edges of the candy bar.
 What type of tectonic plate boundary does this action
represent?_________divergent____________________
 What landforms occur at this type of tectonic plate
boundary?__volcanic & fault block mountains________
5. Observe the candy bar.
 Re-draw the candy bar (“birds-eye-view”) and label.
6. Now push the “plates” back together, then slowly and
gently slide (horizontally) one half of the candy bar
towards you and the other half away from you.
 What type of tectonic plate boundary does this action
represent?_______transform_____________________
 What results from this type of tectonic plate boundary?
____________faulting & earthquakes______________
7. Observe the candy bar.
 Re-draw the candy bar (“birds-eye-view”) and label.
8. Re-align the “plates” so that they are together again.
Now slowly and gently push on both ends of the
candy bar to squeeze it together.
 What type of tectonic plate boundary does this action
represent?_______convergent____________________
 What landforms occur at this type of tectonic plate
boundary?_C/C – Continental mountains, ___________
C/O & O/O – Volcanic mountains__________________
9. Observe the candy bar.
 Re-draw the candy bar (side-view) and labe*.
Observations & Analysis:
Ask students for suggestions on how to label.
Label Suggestions:
Chocolate = lithosphere/crust
Carmel = asthenosphere
Nougat = core
*Peanuts = convection currents (*prompt)
Discuss limitations of using snicker’s as model.
Label:
Volcanic mountains
Fault block mountains
Magma
Rift Zone
Arrows to show plate movement
Label:
Faults
Earthquake epicenter
Arrows to show plate movement
The type of mountains resulting depends on what
happens to the “crust” during collision.
Label:
Type of lithosphere/crust
(C/C, C/O*, O/O*)
Type of mountains based on “crust”
*Subduction zone
Plate Tectonics Lab: Snicker’s Science
Question: Can you use a Snicker’s candy bar to model the Theory of Plate Tectonics?
Background Information: Plate tectonics is the theory that the lithosphere is divided into __________ _______
that move around on top of the _______________. Tectonic plate boundaries are divided into three types:
___________, ___________, and ___________. The type of boundary depends on how the tectonic plates move
relative to one another. Tectonic plates can collide with, pull away from, or slide past each other. One possible
driving force of tectonic plate movement is the process of ____________ within the asthenosphere. The slow
movement of the solid rock in the asthenosphere is caused by _________ changes. Density changes are caused by
the outward flow of _________ ________ from deep within the Earth. When rock is heated, it expands, becomes
_____ dense, and _______ to the surface, as it gets near the surface, the rock cools, becomes _______ dense, and
_______ back down. This process of convection within the asthenosphere is believed to drive the tectonic plates
above it to move relative to the convection currents below.
Materials: ½ Snicker’s candy bar
Procedure:
1. Wash your hands before touching the candy bar.
2. Observe the open end of the candy bar.
 Draw a cross section view of the candy bar and label
according to Earth’s structure layers.
3. Use your fingernail to make a few breaks in the “crust”
or top of the candy bar.
 What type of strain occurred due to the stress placed on
the “crust” by your fingernail? _____________________
4. Slowly and gently pull on the edges of the candy bar.
 What type of tectonic plate boundary does this action
represent?_____________________________________
 What landforms occur at this type of tectonic plate
boundary?_____________________________________
5. Observe the candy bar.
 Re-draw the candy bar (“birds-eye-view”) and label.
6. Now push the “plates” back together, then slowly and
gently slide (horizontally) one half of the candy bar
towards you and the other half away from you.
 What type of tectonic plate boundary does this action
represent?_____________________________________
 What results from this type of tectonic plate boundary?
______________________________________________
7. Observe the candy bar.
 Re-draw the candy bar (“birds-eye-view”) and label.
8. Re-align the “plates” so that they are together again.
Now slowly and gently push on both ends of the
candy bar to squeeze it together.
 What type of tectonic plate boundary does this action
represent?_____________________________________
 What landforms occur at this type of tectonic plate
boundary?_____________________________________
______________________________________________
9. Observe the candy bar.
 Re-draw the candy bar (side-view) and label.
Observations & Analysis:
Plate Tectonics Lab: Snicker’s Science
Conclusion:
1. State the Theory of Plate Tectonics.
2. What are the evidences here on Earth to support the Theory of Plate Tectonics?
3. Can you use a Snicker’s candy bar to model the Theory of Plate Tectonics? Explain why or
why not.
4. Why is the Earth’s lithosphere considered a giant jigsaw puzzle?
5. List and define the three types of tectonic plate boundaries.
6. Rate of Sea-Floor Spreading problem: Parts of Africa and South America were joined 135
million years ago. These parts are now 1,000 km apart. What is the overall rate at which
these parts are moving away from each other in millimeters per year?
7. Alfred Wegener wrote, “If it turns out that sense and meaning are now becoming evident in
the whole history of the Earth’s development, why should we hesitate to toss the old views
overboard?” Explain why you think the acceptance of new ideas in science is a slow process.
Plate Tectonics Lab: Snicker’s Science
Conclusion:
1. State the Theory of Plate Tectonics.
2. What are the evidences here on Earth to support the Theory of Plate Tectonics?
3. Can you use a Snicker’s candy bar to model the Theory of Plate Tectonics? Explain why or
why not.
4. Why is the Earth’s lithosphere considered a giant jigsaw puzzle?
5. List and define the three types of tectonic plate boundaries.
6. Rate of Sea-Floor Spreading problem: Parts of Africa and South America were joined 135
million years ago. These parts are now 1,000 km apart. What is the overall rate at which
these parts are moving away from each other in millimeters per year?
7. Alfred Wegener wrote, “If it turns out that sense and meaning are now becoming evident in
the whole history of the Earth’s development, why should we hesitate to toss the old views
overboard?” Explain why you think the acceptance of new ideas in science is a slow process.