At this point in time*, I...
Unit B: Earth’s Changing Surface
Primary Resource: EarthComm – Earth’s Dynamic Geosphere - Unit 2 – Plate Tectonics...and Your
Community (G60-G118)
Learning Targets
# = focus question
Can’t do
this
letters = learning targets
Could do
some of
this
Could do
all of this
TOPIC: PLATE MOTION – Activity 1 – Taking a Ride on a Lithospheric Plate
1. How do we know that plates are moving?
a)
Describe the basic structure of the Earth, comparing the various layers.
b)
Describe the direction and rate of movement of plates and how these are measured.
c)
d)
Predict future plate movement and reflect back on past plate movement.
Describe several lines of evidence for plate motion.
IMPORTANT VOCABULARY: crust, mantle, ASTENOSPHERE, LITHOSPHERE, OCEANIC
CRUST, CONTINENTAL CRUST, GPS, SEA FLOOR SPREADING, MID-OCEAN RIDGE
TOPIC: PLATE BOUNDARIES AND PLATE INTERACTIONS – Activity 2
2. What are the characteristics of plate boundaries and their interactions ?
a)
b)
c)
Describe the distribution of plates – using a world map that shows relative plate
motion.
Classify and label the types of movement at plate boundaries – using a world map that
shows relative plate motion.
Predict future plate movement and reflect back on past plate movement.
IMPORTANT VOCABULARY: DIVERGENT BOUNDARY, RIFT VALLEY, CONVERGENT
BOUNDARY, SUBDUCTION, OCEAN TRENCH, VOLCANIC ARC, TRANSFORM
BOUNDARY
TOPIC: WHAT DRIVES THE PLATES? – Activity 3
3. What causes the movements of the plates?
a) Compare and contrast the different types of Earth materials (oceanic vs
continental) in terms of their density.
b) Describe the impact of temperature on the density of Earth materials.
c) Describe how density and convection work together to move the lithospheric
plates.
IMPORTANT VOCABULARY: density, outer core, inner core, seismic waves, THERMAL
CONVECTION
TOPIC: EFFECTS OF PLATE TECTONICS – Activity 4
4. What are the impacts of plate tectonics on the Earth?
a) Explain the relationship between plate boundaries and the distribution of
volcanoes and earthquakes on the Earth.
b) Explain how plate tectonic processes can ‘build’ features on the Earth’s
Surface.
IMPORTANT VOCABULARY: PLATE TECTONICS, HOT SPOT, CONTINENTAL
ACCRETION
TOPIC: PLATE TECTONICS THEORY – Activity 5: The Changing Geography of Your Community
5. How has the position of continents changed through time?
a) Describe how the continents have moved over geological time.
b) Cite specific evidence for plate tectonics – specifically multiple pieces of
evidence for Pangea.
c) Differentiate between the theories of continental drift and plate tectonics.
IMPORTANT VOCABULARY: theory, PANGEA, PALEOMAGNETISM
*Date of Self-Assessments
Check 1: _________
Check 2: _________
Check 3: _________ Check 4: _________
Prior Knowledge – 6th & 7th grade
7ES3: Major geologic events such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, mid-ocean ridges, and mountain formation are associated with plate
boundaries and attributed to plate motions.
6ES3: Complex interrelationships exist between Earth’s structure and natural processes that over time are both constructive and destructive
At this point in time*, I...
Unit B: Earth’s Changing Surface
Primary Resource: EarthComm – Earth’s Dynamic Geosphere - Unit 2 – Plate Tectonics...and Your
Community (G60-G118)
Learning Targets
# = focus question
Can’t do
this
letters = learning targets
Could do
some of
this
Could do
all of this
TOPIC: PLATE MOTION – Activity 1 – Taking a Ride on a Lithospheric Plate
1. How do we know that plates are moving?
a)
Describe the basic structure of the Earth, comparing the various layers.
b)
Describe the direction and rate of movement of plates and how these are measured.
c)
d)
Predict future plate movement and reflect back on past plate movement.
Describe several lines of evidence for plate motion.
IMPORTANT VOCABULARY: crust, mantle, ASTENOSPHERE, LITHOSPHERE, OCEANIC
CRUST, CONTINENTAL CRUST, GPS, SEA FLOOR SPREADING, MID-OCEAN RIDGE
TOPIC: PLATE BOUNDARIES AND PLATE INTERACTIONS – Activity 2
2. What are the characteristics of plate boundaries and their interactions ?
a)
b)
c)
Describe the distribution of plates – using a world map that shows relative plate
motion.
Classify and label the types of movement at plate boundaries – using a world map that
shows relative plate motion.
Predict future plate movement and reflect back on past plate movement.
IMPORTANT VOCABULARY: DIVERGENT BOUNDARY, RIFT VALLEY, CONVERGENT
BOUNDARY, SUBDUCTION, OCEAN TRENCH, VOLCANIC ARC, TRANSFORM
BOUNDARY
TOPIC: WHAT DRIVES THE PLATES? – Activity 3
3. What causes the movements of the plates?
a) Compare and contrast the different types of Earth materials (oceanic vs
continental) in terms of their density.
b) Describe the impact of temperature on the density of Earth materials.
c) Describe how density and convection work together to move the
lithospheric plates.
IMPORTANT VOCABULARY: density, outer core, inner core, seismic waves, THERMAL
CONVECTION
TOPIC: EFFECTS OF PLATE TECTONICS – Activity 4
4. What are the impacts of plate tectonics on the Earth?
a) Explain the relationship between plate boundaries and the distribution of
volcanoes and earthquakes on the Earth.
b) Explain how plate tectonic processes can ‘build’ features on the Earth’s
Surface.
IMPORTANT VOCABULARY: PLATE TECTONICS, HOT SPOT, CONTINENTAL
ACCRETION
TOPIC: PLATE TECTONICS THEORY – Activity 5: The Changing Geography of Your Community
5. How has the position of continents changed through time?
a) Describe how the continents have moved over geological time.
b) Cite specific evidence for plate tectonics – specifically multiple pieces of
evidence for Pangea.
c) Differentiate between the theories of continental drift and plate tectonics.
IMPORTANT VOCABULARY: theory, PANGEA, PALEOMAGNETISM
*Date of Self-Assessments
Check 1: _________
Check 2: _________
Check 3: _________ Check 4: _________
Prior Knowledge – 6th & 7th grade
7ES3: Major geologic events such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, mid-ocean ridges, and mountain formation are associated with plate
boundaries and attributed to plate motions.
6ES3: Complex interrelationships exist between Earth’s structure and natural processes that over time are both constructive and destructive