Do Now Week of Nov 16-Nov 20
Nov 16, 2015
The diagram is showing a brief period of plate movement in Earth’s history. Why would studying plate movement be
important to scientists that study geologic time?
A.
B.
C.
D.
In this time period, there were many less species of organisms on Earth.
During this time period, man had developed the theories of continental drift and plate tectonics.
The study of plate tectonics can help scientists predict future locations of continents and oceans if movements
continue in the same directions.
It is the only time that continents had moved and similar fossils of organisms were found on many continents that
were once joined together.
EXPLAIN
Nov 17, 2015
Various scientists are linked to the development of the theory of plate tectonics. In 1912, Alfred Wegner, through
observations of continental design and fossil identification on various continents, believed that the continents, at one
time, were joined together and presented his conclusion as the Continental Drift Theory. Between the late 1950’s and
early 1960’s, Harry Hess and Robert Dietz presented their thoughts that the continents moved due to sea-floor
spreading. What documented proof led to the conclusion that the plates containing continents and ocean floor are
always moving?
F.
G.
H.
J.
EXPLAIN
Most scientists did not believe Wegner because he was a meteorologist and could not prove how the
continents moved. But, Hess and Dietz were geologists so the public and the scientific community gave
them support in their conclusions.
The bathymetric dating and mapping of the ocean floor found younger rock near mid-ocean ridges and
the ocean crustal material near continents contained older rock.
The dating of ocean rock found much older rocks near mid-ocean ridges and younger rocks were found
near the edges of most continents.
The boundaries of continents fit together like a puzzle which led to all scientists acknowledging the
Continental Drift Theory.
Nov 18, 2015
Look at the picture below. It shows that South America and Africa fit together like puzzle pieces.
Which statement best explains why they fit together?
A. Waves in the Atlantic created matching coastlines on either side of the ocean.
B. The continents are made of different types of rocks, which break in similar patterns.
C. They were once part of the same landmass but were separated by the movement of tectonic plates.
D. None of the above.
EXPLAIN
Nov 19, 2015
The theory of plate tectonics is a result ofF.
G.
H.
J.
EXPLAIN
similar fossils being found on all continents
knowing that Pangea was a super-continent
why the oceans and continents have always been in the same locations
finding older rocks near continents and younger rocks near the center of oceans
Nov 20, 2015
Eighth graders have been studying about the theory of plate tectonics. Of the following statements, which ones would
be the BEST conclusion to the lesson?
1) There are small amounts of movement at the plates' edges
2) There is no geologic activity located at the plates' edges
3) Geologic activity causes stress to build and storage of energy at the edges
4) Geologic stress and stored energy is released as earthquakes at the edges
F. 1 and 4
G. 2 and 3
H. 1 and 3
J. 3 and 4
EXPLAIN