Name: _____________________________ #: _____
Date: _________________________ Period: _____
Pangaea Puzzle
End in Mind: To use the same evidence Alfred Wegener used to construct Earth’s super continent.
Seek First to Understand: Alfred Wegener read many books that helped him to construct his continental drift theory.
Below is a collection of the evidence Alfred Wegener used to help support his hypothesis.
About 265 million years ago, a reptile called Mesosaurus lived in just a few places on Earth. This fairly small
lizard-like reptile measured 71 centimeters from its nose to the tip of its tail – or about two thirds of a meter. Its body
was long and flexible, perfect for swimming swiftly through the water. Mesosaurus was a hunter of small fish and other
aquatic animals. Its webbed feet and long tail worked like powerful paddles as it chased and captured its food. Like other
reptiles, Mesosaurus breathed air, so it had to return to the surface after hunting underwater. Freshwater ponds and
lakes were its habitat.
In the 1800’s, scientist began finding fossils of these ancient reptiles, which had long since been extinct. This
distribution is a curious one – These fossils were found in only two regions, southern Africa and the southern part of
South America separated by the Atlantic Ocean.
Besides the fossils found of the Mesosaurus there was other evidence found too! Other fossils found include a fern
called the Glossopteris. This specific fern fossil was found in southern India, Antarctica, Madagascar, and Australia.
Another fossil found was a land reptile called the Cynognathus. These fossils were found in South America and South
Africa.
One more fossil found was another land reptile called the Lystosaurus, which was found in Antarctica, Madagascar, India,
and Eastern Africa.
More evidence comes to us in the structure of landforms.
Glaciers are huge masses of ice that move over land. They leave behind information about the direction of their
movement called striations in the rock they once covered. Glaciers also leave deposits behind called till. Rocks found in
South America, Africa, India, and Australia contain striations and glacial till.
The last bit of evidence from landforms comes from the Appalachian Mountains, the Mountains located in Greenland,
Britain, and Scandinavia called the Caledonides. These two mountain ranges contain the same types and ages of rock.
Name: _____________________________ #: _____
Date: _________________________ Period: _____
Pangaea Puzzle
Pre-Lab Questions:
1.
Using evidence from the passage above, was it likely that the Mesosaurus swam across the Atlantic Ocean? Why
of why not?
2.
We know Antarctica is located near the South Pole, which makes it very cold! What could explain why a tropical
fern could grow there?
3.
South America, Africa, India, and Australia are located near the equator. This makes them pretty warm places!
How is it possible for these places to have glacial evidence on them?
4.
How is it possible that rocks found on the east coast of North America are also found across the Atlantic Ocean
in Europe and Greenland?
Question: What could explain the distribution of fossils, glacial evidence, and mountain formations?
Hypothesis: ________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Be Proactive: Materials- For this assignment you will need;
●
3 continent sheets (8 different puzzle pieces)
●
Scissors
●
Glue
●
Colored Pencils
●
Markers
●
And a large blank sheet of paper
Name: _____________________________ #: _____
Date: _________________________ Period: _____
Pangaea Puzzle
First Things First:
1.
Outline all landmasses with a marker.
2.
Color each landmass a different color.
3.
Label each landmass with its correct name.
4.
Cut our each land mass so that you have 8 different puzzle pieces. Try your best to cut out their general shape.
Remember that the continents 240 million years ago do not have the same shape as now.
5.
Once the pieces are ready, spread them on the table. Note that there are several letters written on the edges of
many of the pieces. The key for the letters is as follows:
KEY
F = Fossils
M = Mountian Belt
G = Glacial Deposits
Arrows = orientation of
glacial striations
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Before you begin assembling the puzzle, there are a few important pieces of information to consider;
● DO NOT PASTE THEM ON YOUR PAPER YET!
● Central America did not exist 240 million years ago, so fold Central America under, as indicated on the
puzzle piece.
● Remember that a perfect fit will not be achieved because of coastline configuration.
● Use all the “geologic evidence” shown by the letters, as well as the puzzle-like fit of the continents to
construct the supercontinent Pangaea. Each letter of set of letters must be matched with a similar letter
grouping. For example, a continent with 3 “G’s “ should fit with another continent with 3 “G’s”.
● It’s much easier to place the smallest piece into the puzzle last.
Begin the reconstruction of Pangaea! Be sure to place an arrow in the corner indicating what is north.
When you complete the puzzle be sure that all of your “evidence” has been “analyzed” appropriately! If you are
ready please show your teacher.
Once you have placed your puzzle pieces in the correct arrangement paste them onto your blank sheet of paper.
Be sure to put your name in the lower right corner and title the super continent Pangaea at the top. Then
answer the post-lab questions.
Name: _____________________________ #: _____
Date: _________________________ Period: _____
Pangaea Puzzle
Post-Lab Questions
1.
Now that you have constructed the supercontinent, what must have covered the rest of the globe?
2.
Explain how mountain chains provided evidence for the existence of Pangaea.
3.
Explain how fossils provided evidence for the existence of Pangaea.
4.
Explain how glaciers provided evidence for the existence of Pangaea.
5.
How does the Mesosaurus support Wegener’s Continental Drift Theory? Give evidence to support your ideas.
6.
In what ways might the concept of continental plates compare to a jigsaw puzzle?
7.
Do you think the break-up of Pangaea during the Jurassic period led to the extinction of some dinosaurs and the
evolution of other dinosaurs? Please explain.
8.
Based on the geologic past, we can assume that the Earth is always changing. What modern-day evidence
supports this idea? (Hint: Think about natural disasters. Where do they often occur?
Name: _____________________________ #: _____
Date: _________________________ Period: _____
Pangaea Puzzle
Name: _____________________________ #: _____
Date: _________________________ Period: _____
Pangaea Puzzle
Name: _____________________________ #: _____
Date: _________________________ Period: _____
Pangaea Puzzle