The Structure of Earth Classwork
Classwork #1
Name: __________________________
4th grade PSI
1. In your own words, what is the Earth’s crust?
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2. The Earth’s surface became the way it is:
A. only very recently.
B. because of one event in history.
C. over many hundreds of thousands of years.
D. over many years, but now it is done changing.
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4th Grade PSI
History of Planet Earth
The Structure of Earth Homework
Homework #1
Name: __________________________
4th grade PSI
1. Label the three layers of Earth.
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2. Geologists study rocks in Earth’s crust to learn about:
A. property lines
B. history
C. languages
D. what is happening right now
3. Why do you think it might be important to learn about Earth’s
history? (Be as specific as you can.)
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________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
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4th Grade PSI
History of Planet Earth
Rock Layers Classwork
Classwork #2
Name: __________________________
4th grade PSI
1. Sediment is: (choose the best answer)
A. dirt and rock
B. solid materials
C. broken up particles that sink in water
D. not common in sedimentary rocks
2. In your own words, what does the Law of Superposition say?
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4th Grade PSI
History of Planet Earth
Rock Layers Homework
Homework #2
Name: __________________________
4th grade PSI
1. Draw a picture or use words to describe the steps in
sedimentary rock formation. If drawing pictures, use labels
where appropriate.
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deposition
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sedimentation
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compaction
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cementation
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4th Grade PSI
History of Planet Earth
Fossils and Relative Time Classwork
Classwork #3
Name: __________________________
4th grade PSI
1. What is a fossil?
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________________________________________________
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2. Fossils found in rocks from different time periods look
different because:
A. fossil deposition is random
B. different plants and animals lived at different times
C. the same plants and animals have always existed but
move around
D. the Earth has not changed
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4th Grade PSI
History of Planet Earth
Fossils and Relative Time Homework
Homework #3
Name: __________________________
4th grade PSI
Use the diagram below to answer questions 3 and 4.
very long ago
1. You have 2 rocks.
In Rock A, you find 3
In Rock B you find 2
recent
fossils and one
fossil.
fossils.
Which rock is older? Why?
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2. In Asia and South America, rocks have been found with
many
fossils. Given your knowledge of fossils, how can
you compare or contrast these rocks?
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________________________________________________
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4th Grade PSI
History of Planet Earth
Rock Formation and Earth Forces Classwork
Classwork #4
Name: _____________________
4th grade PSI
1. Rocks that are closer to the surface are always younger than
rocks that are deeper down.
TRUE
FALSE
2. What are some examples of Earth forces that can disrupt the
Law of Superposition?
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________________________________________________
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________________________________________________
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4th Grade PSI
History of Planet Earth
Rock Formation and Earth Forces Homework
Homework #4
Name: _____________________
4th grade PSI
1. What are tectonic plates?
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2. A friend tells you that tectonic plates are like a broken
eggshell. Explain this statement. (If you want, draw a picture
to help explain.)
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3. Another friend tell you that tectonic plates are like graham
crackers floating on top of yogurt. Explain this statement. (If
you want, draw a picture to help explain.)
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
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4th Grade PSI
History of Planet Earth
Tectonic Plates Classwork
Classwork #5
Name: ______________________________
4th grade PSI
1. Fill in the chart to compare oceanic and continental crust.
oceanic crust
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continental crust
4th Grade PSI
History of Planet Earth
Tectonic Plates Homework
Homework #5
Name: ______________________________
4th grade PSI
1. What type of plate boundary does this
diagram show? What do plates do at
this kind of boundary?
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2. What type of plate boundary does this
diagram show? What do plates do at
this kind of boundary?
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3. What type of plate boundary does this
diagram show? What do plates do at
this kind of boundary?
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
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4th Grade PSI
History of Planet Earth
Earth’s Visible Features Classwork
Classwork #6
Name: ______________________________
4th grade PSI
1. Draw three pictures in the boxes below that show three different features you might
find on Earth where plates converge. (Think about differences between oceanic and
continental crust.)
Continental-continental
convergence
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Continental-oceanic
convergence
4th Grade PSI
Oceanic-oceanic
convergence
History of Planet Earth
Earth’s Visible Features Homework
Homework #6
Name: ______________________________
4th grade PSI
1. What features would you see on Earth’s surface where
tectonic plates diverge?
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2. At divergent boundaries, what fills the space that is left by
plates pulling apart? Where does it come from?
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3. What is subduction and where does it occur?
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
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4th Grade PSI
History of Planet Earth
Patterns of Earth’s Features Classwork
Classwork #7
Name: __________________________
4th grade PSI
1. What does this map of earthquake locations show us?
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______________________
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______________________
______________________
______________________
2. Do volcanoes exist in the same locations where earthquakes
occur? Explain.
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________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
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4th Grade PSI
History of Planet Earth
Patterns of Earth’s Features Homework
Homework #7
Name: __________________________
4th grade PSI
1. Volcanoes form at what type of plate boundaries?
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2. Circle all of these types of boundaries on this map.
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4th Grade PSI
History of Planet Earth
Answer Key
The Structure of Earth Classwork
Classwork #1
1. Answers will vary (outer layer of earth, Earth’s surface, what we see with our
eyes, sedimentary rocks, important in teaching us about history)
2. C
The Structure of Earth Homework
Homework #1
1. crust
mantle
core
2. B
3. Answers will vary
Rock Layers Classwork
Classwork #2
1. C
2. Answers will vary, but must have the idea that as you go farther from Earth’s
surface, rocks get older and/or as rocks are closer to Earth’s surface, they are
younger.
Rock Layers Homework
Homework #2
1. Answers will vary but should include the following ideas:
 deposition: sediments are dropped somewhere, from moving to standing
still
 sedimentation: build up in layers
 compaction: sediments squash layers below as they build up
 cementation: rocks are hardened, air is squeezed out
Fossils and Relative Time Classwork
Classwork #3
1. Answers will vary (remains of plants and animals, non-living organisms found in
rocks, found in sedimentary rocks)
2. B
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4th Grade PSI
History of Planet Earth
Fossils and Relative Time Homework
Homework #3
1. Rock A is older than Rock B because Rock A contains fossils that are older than
Rock B.
2. These rocks must have formed at a similar time in history because they both
contain fossils that are similar in age.
Rock Formations and Earth Forces Classwork
Classwork #4
1. false
2. earthquakes, erosion (wind, water, animals), rivers
Rock Formations and Earth Forces Homework
Homework #4
1. Answers will vary (pieces of earth crust that fit together, sections of Earth’s
surface, thick pieces that float on the mantle)
2. Answers should discuss earth’s surface being broken into pieces that fit together.
3. Answers should discuss how plates float on top of a liquid mantle.
Tectonic Plates Classwork
Classwork #5
Oceanic Crust
under the ocean floor
Continental Crust
under land masses
made of dense rocks
made of light rocks, lighter
heavy
6 - 47 miles thick
about 4 miles thick
usually older
Tectonic Plates Homework
Homework #5
1. divergent boundary, plates move away from one another, new crust is formed
2. transform boundary, pates slide past each other in opposite directions
3. convergent boundary, plates push together, one plate subducts under the other
Earth’s Visible Features Classwork
Classwork #6
ContinentalContinental-oceanic
continental
convergence
convergence
picture should show
picture should show
oceanic plate subducting
mountains forming
and mountains forming
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4th Grade PSI
Oceanic-oceanic
convergence
picture should show an
ocean trench forming and
one plate subducting
History of Planet Earth
Earth’s Visible Features Homework
Homework #6
1. Rift valleys or mid-ocean ridges
2. Magma. It comes from the mantle.
3. Subduction is where one plate sinks underneath another. It happens at
convergent boundaries.
Patterns of Earth’s Features Classwork
Classwork #7
1. The map shows that earthquakes occur on plate boundaries and do not happen
in random places across the globe.
2. Volcanoes exist in some locations where earthquakes occur, but not all.
Volcanoes are located at converging boundaries while earthquakes can be at
any kind of boundary.
Patterns of Earth’s Features Homework
Homework #7
1. convergent boundaries
2.
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4th Grade PSI
History of Planet Earth