GEOLOGY GAME PROJECT
Directions: Students will be placed in groups of 3 or 4. Groups will create a review game for plate tectonics as
described below.
Assignment:
You and your partners are game developers who work for a business that develops learning materials
for science classrooms around the country. You have just been hired to create an engaging game for
Middle School students that will focus on plate tectonics, and how they affect the earth’s surface,
geological events, and continuous motion. Your game must be educational, challenging, and fun. In
order to create an effective product, you will need to conduct research on plate tectonics, and create
game questions that apply to the causes and effects of plate tectonics on the Earth. Your product will
include questions that must be answered correctly by game participants in order to successfully get
through the game, while teaching and reinforcing knowledge about plate tectonics. Each group will
write 50 questions (ex: questions on one side/answers on opposite side), of which several must apply
to the following topics (learning targets/ vocabulary):
1. Where are the tectonic plates located, and what are they named?
2. How are land features reshaped by plate tectonics?
3. Describe the motions and interactions of tectonic plates.
4. How do plate tectonics relate to the formation of the crustal features of the Earth?
5. What are products of the rock cycle?
6. What is continental drift and how does it shape the Earth?
7. Describe the types of Volcanoes and their characteristics?
8.What is Pangaea?
9. Describe the processes and types of weathering and erosion.
10. What are the layers of the Earth and what are they made of?
11. Explain convection currents within the Earth.
Games will be for "3-4" players that are designed to engage participants. Each group will create their
own game template (if a board game) with a question bank or prepared design for a "live"
performance (ex: jeopardy, eggspurt, family feud, millionaire, etc.) with a question bank. All test
banks will have 50 questions and will be played in class.
Process:
You will use notes, internet, textbooks, video lectures, scientific websites, etc., to conduct research on
plate tectonics and the elements that relate to the topic. Be sure to include the answers to 1-11 above
in your research.
Assessment:
Each game will be played by peer groups. Once all games have been played, students will provide
feedback about each game, and the class will vote on the overall best game. The games will be
designed to teach and reinforce the topic of plate tectonics, and to facilitate mastery of the topic.
You will take a unit exam after your games have been played, to show mastery of the topic.
Must Read Material & Must See Movies:
PowerPoints & PDFs:
Movies:
Breaking it down
Bill Nye-
Earth’s crust
Composition of Earth
Rocks and Soil
Rock Cycle
Earthquakes
Plate tectonics, Erosion
Volcanoes
Mapping Plate boundaries
Erosion
Plate boundaries
BrainPop-
Volcanoes
Understanding Plate boundaries
types of rocks
Volcanoes
Soil
phet simulation- plate tectonics
Rock cycle
Britannica- pathways.eb.com
Plate tectonics
http://kids.discovery.com/games/volcano-explorer
Earthquakes
Gizmos (explorelearning.com)- Plate tectonics
Earth’s structure
Rock Cycle
Erosion
Building Pangaea
Rock Classification
Bibliography (don’t do):
Must include every resource used
*No copy and paste, make sure to understand the material and not just look for questions for the
game.
Word Document:
Must include all 50 questions and answers.
Questions
Answers
Teacher NotesCheckpoint 1- Game idea and 10 questions due 5/14 (10 points)
Checkpoint 2- Game idea and 20 questions due 5/18 (10 points)
Entire assignment due 5/20 (50 points)
Worksheets are on SWIFT or in the back of the classroom.
Setting yourself up for success on the test and the game:
1. Everyone in your group reads the resources and takes notes at home.
2. Come to class ready to discuss resources with your group.
3. Come up with questions related to the notes taken and what was discussed in the
group.
4. Do Not try to divide and conquer this project, information will be missed that
may be on the test.
5. Do Not try to copy and paste questions, information may not be retained or
missed that may be on the test.