PLATE TECTONICS UNIT
The theory of plate tectonics is the unifying theory that explains Earth’s geological processes
 plate tectonic movement
 major geological events of local significance
 layers in Earth
LAYERS OF THE EARTH
Label and define the layers of the
earth
PLATE TECTONICS
What is the difference between
plate tectonics and Continental
Drift?
List and explain evidence for
Continental Drift.
What are the landforms and events
created by plate tectonics?
Vocabulary:
Crust
Mantle
Outer Core
Inner Core
Vocabulary:
o
o
o
o
o
o
Continental Drift
Plate tectonics
slab pull
convection
magnetic reversal
Pangea
o
o
o
o
o
plate boundary
plate convergence
plate divergence
subduction
transform plates
Landforms:
o
o
o
o
sea floor spreading
rift valley
mountains
oceanic trench
Volcanoes:
o
o
lava,
magma
Earthquakes:
o
o
o
magnitude
seismograph
seismology
MAJOR LOCAL GEOLOGICAL EVENTS
Explain local events:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
Earthquakes: Historical and Comparative Timeline Along the Pacific Rim of North America
Saanich Earthquake: S, P, And L Waves.
Using Technology: How We Located the Epicenter and Focus of the Saanich Earthquake
Comparing the Saanich Earthquake to other local
The Richter Scale vs The Mercalli Scale: A Comparison
North American Tsunamis: How, Where, And When
Tsunamis: Emergency Preparation in Abbotsford- What Needs to Be Done?
Earthquakes: Emergency Preparation in Abbotsford- What Needs to Be Done?
Continental Shelf and Ocean Currents.
First Nations Myths: How Local Mountains Were Formed.
Mountain Formation: Coast Mountain Range/Rocky Mountain Range
The Continental Divide and Its Effects On Coastal and Plains First Nations Settlements
Our Mountain Ranges: Why Are Precious Metals There?
Our Mountain Ranges: Why Are Fossils Found in The Burgess Shale and Other Mountainous Areas?
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
Volcanoes: More Than Just Mt. St. Helens- A List and Description.
Volcanoes: Historical and Comparative Timeline
Volcanoes: Bombs and Other Pyroclastic Materials
Super Volcanoes: The Real Facts
Underwater Hot Vents
Volcanic Eruption in North America: Lahars
Hot Springs in B.C.
Three Types of Volcanoes in North America- What and Where?
Identifying and Explaining Different Lava Types
Part 1: Layers of the Earth
Assignment 1:
Name___________________________
Use this cross section of the earth to label the four layers and include information about each layers’:

a) Composition (its materials)

b) State (solid, liquid)

c) Density (compared to other layers)

c) Role/Function (what it does)
10 Marks
Part 2: Plate Tectonics and Continental Drift
Define:
Plate tectonics
convection
Slab pull
Continental
Drift
List and explain
4 pieces of
evidence which
help prove the
theory of
continental
drift
/5
Name____________________________
Part 3: Formations and Events of Plate Tectonics
Define:
plate boundary
Draw and
describe a
divergent
boundary.
Include what
landforms and
events occur
there.
Draw and
describe a
convergent
boundary.
Include what
landforms and
events occur
there.
/10
Name:__________________________
Draw and
describe a
transform
boundary.
Include what
landforms and
events occur
there.
Volcanoes
/10
Name___________________________
Cinder Cone
Description of its size, shape, what it’s made of, etc. Include labeled drawing.
Shield
Description of its size, shape, what it’s made of, etc. Include labeled drawing.
Composite or
Stratovolcano
Description of its size, shape, what it’s made of, etc. Include labeled drawing.
Earthquakes
Define seismology.
a) Explain how
earthquakes occur.
b) In what way is an
earthquake like
snapping a stick in
half?
Create a labeled
diagram of a plate
boundary which
shows an
earthquake’s
epicenter and focus.
Include a definition
for each.
How does a
seismograph work?
What is the
difference between
an earthquake that is
3.0 on the Richter
Scale and one that is
4.0 on the Richter
Scale? Explain.
What is meant by
magnitude?
Intensity?
Name_____________________
Richter Scale
Mercalli Scale
Compare the two
earthquake scales.
P wave
Surface or body
wave?
Arrives first, second,
or third?
Faster or slower than
other waves?
What kind of
medium can it go
through? (Solids?
Liquids?)
Type of wave
(compression or
transverse)
List the major
hazards of
earthquakes
List, from safest to
least safe, the best
building types.
S wave
L wave
Part 4: Local Tectonic Events and Formations
Name___________________________
Plate Tectonic Report
A)
B)
C)
D)
Choose one topic to create your own report in whichever format you wish.
Sign up your topic with your teacher. No duplicates in the class.
Include your list of sources at the end (Article Title and URL).
You have one class for designing an outline and two classes for completing it.
Marks:
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
Outline:
Content:
Grammar/Spelling/Punctuation:
Bibliography:
Presentation:
/5
/15
/10
/5
/5
TOTAL: /40
Below is a list of possible geological topics.
A) Earthquakes: Historical and Comparative
Timeline Along the Pacific Rim of North America
L) The Continental Divide and Its Effects On
Coastal and Plains First Nations Settlements
B) Saanich Earthquake: S, P, And L Waves.
M) Our Mountain Ranges: Why Are Precious Metals
There?
C) Using Technology: How We Located the
Epicenter and Focus of the Saanich Earthquake
D) Comparing the Saanich Earthquake to other
local
E) The Richter Scale vs The Mercalli Scale: A
Comparison
F) North American Tsunamis: How, Where, And
When
G) Tsunamis: Emergency Preparation in
Abbotsford- What Needs to Be Done?
H) Earthquakes: Emergency Preparation in
Abbotsford- What Needs to Be Done?
I)
Continental Shelf and Ocean Currents.
J)
First Nations Myths: How Local Mountains Were
Formed.
K) Mountain Formation: Coast Mountain
Range/Rocky Mountain Range
N) Our Mountain Ranges: Why Are Fossils Found in
The Burgess Shale and Other Mountainous
Areas?
O) Volcanoes: More Than Just Mt. St. Helens- A List
and Description.
P) Volcanoes: Historical and Comparative Timeline
Q) Volcanoes: Bombs and Other Pyroclastic
Materials
R) Super Volcanoes: The Real Facts
S) Underwater Hot Vents
T) Volcanic Eruption in North America: Lahars
U) Hot Springs in B.C.
V) Three Types of Volcanoes in North AmericaWhat and Where?
W) Identifying and Explaining Different Lava Types