Student Name:
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Plate Tectonics
By the end of our unit on plate tectonics we will need to be able to answer one essential
question: If you were going to build a beach house for you and your family, where would you put it
and why? You will need to base your answer on the ideas from the rubric below.
Topic
Layers of
the Earth
(2,3,4)
Convection
currents (5,
11,12)
Plate
interactions
(6,
7,8,9,10,16)
Earthquakes
(1)
Volcanos (7,
10)
Advanced – Above
grade level
I am able to identify
all 6 of the Earths
layers and evaluate
how the
characteristics of the
layers can cause plate
motion
I am able to model
convection currents
and evaluate their role
in tectonic plate
motion as well as
explain other places
where convection
takes place
I can evaluate the 3
types of plate
boundaries including
their risks
I can use plate
tectonic research to
predict areas that may
be earthquake prone
and can describe the
process that cause
that risk
I can use plate
tectonic research to
predict areas prone to
volcanic activity and
describe the tectonic
process that can cause
that risk
Proficient – At grade
level
I am able to identify
and model 4-6 layers
of the Earth and
describe the layers
involved in plate
motions
Partially Proficient
Emerging
I can identify up to
4 layers of the
Earth and I
understand they
are involved in
tectonic plate
motion
I can explain how
convection
currents could
move the plates
I can identify 3 or
fewer layers of the
Earth
I can compare and
contrast the 3 types
of plate boundaries
including their
possible constructive
and destructive
forces
I can compare and
contrast the
earthquake risks at
each type of plate
boundary
I can identify and
label pictures of
each type of plate
interaction
I can identify
fewer than 3 types
of plate
boundaries
I can identify and
describe more
than one possible
cause of
earthquakes
I can identify one
possible cause of
earthquakes
I can compare and
contrast the risk of
volcanic activity at
each type of plate
boundary
I can identify and
describe more
than one possible
cause of volcanic
activity
I can identify one
possible cause of
volcanic activity
I am able to model
convection currents
and explain their role
in tectonic plate
motion.
I can define
convection
currents
Topic
Mid Ocean
Ridges (9,
14)
Mountain
(16)
Constructive
and
Destructive
forces
Advanced – Above
grade level
I can explain and
model the process of
sea floor spreading
and measure its
impact on the tectonic
plate motion
I can model the
tectonic plate motions
that can cause
mountain formation
and I can evaluate the
effect of different rock
types on that process
I can evaluate the
different types of
constructive and
destructive forces and
the effects they have
had on the earths’
surface
Proficient – At grade
level
I can explain the
connection between
sea floor spreading
and the movement
of the tectonic plates
Partially Proficient
Emerging
I can describe the
process of sea
floor spreading at
mid ocean ridges
I can define mid
ocean ridges
I can use a map of
tectonic plate
motion to predict
where mountains
may be created.
I can explain more
than 1 way that
plate motions can
create mountains
I can describe one
way that
mountains are
formed
I can compare and
contrast constructive
and destructive
forces and explain
how they have
shaped the earths’
surface
I can illustrate all
of the constructive
and destructive
forces that have
shaped the earth
I can define
constructive and
destructive forces
Based on either the rubric or the essential question, what are you most interested in learning about this
unit?
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Based on the rubric, what do you predict will be some of our vocabulary words for Plate Tectonics?
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