EARTH SCIENCE 12 /13
Course B
ESSENTIAL UNIT 4 (E04)
(Movement of the Earth’s Crust)
(June 2011)
Unit Statement: In this unit the student will examine the phenomena that account for
changes in the Earth’s geology. The student will conceive of the earth as a ball of hot
material within which forces slowly cause profound changes on the surface. The student
will relate volcanoes and earthquakes to long-term changes that have occurred on the
Earth’s surface.
Essential Outcomes: (assessed for mastery)
1. The Student Will analyze the evidence that supports Wegener’s hypothesis of
Continental Drift (Chapter 3, Lesson 1).
2. TSW describe the relationship between sea-floor spreading and mid-ocean ridges
(PHES Chapter 3, Lesson 2).
3. TSW describe the process of subduction in deep ocean trenches (Chapter 3, Lesson 2).
4. TSW summarize the theory of Plate Tectonics (Chapter 3, Lesson 3).
5. TSW list and describe the three types of events that can occur at plate boundaries
(transform, divergent, and convergent) (Chapter 3, Lesson 3).
6. TSW list and describe three fault types, and analyze the forces involved in creating
a fault-block mountain, folded mountain, anticline, syncline, and plateau
(Chapter 4, Lesson 1).
7. TSW classify seismic waves, identify how they are measured, define epicenter, and
explain how the epicenter of an earthquake is located (Chapter 4, Lesson 2).
8. TSW correlate lithospheric plate boundaries to the locations of earth’s active
volcanoes (Chapter 5, Lesson 1).
9. TSW diagram a typical volcano and classify volcanic eruptions and identify at
least six types of volcanic landforms (Chapter 5, Lesson 2 & 3).
10. TSW apply the scientific method in a variety of ways, with focus on one or two
areas of the process (Lab Zone Inquiry Skills or teacher written materials).
Introduced & Practiced:
1. The Student Will correlate the convection and conduction occurring in the Earth’s
mantle with the Theories of Continental Drift and Plate Tectonics (Chapter 3,
Lessons 1 and 3).
2. TSW identify at least seven major lithospheric plates (Chapter 3, Lesson 3).
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3. TSW compare three scales (Mercalli, Richter, and Moment Magnitude) used to
measure the severity of earthquakes (Chapter 4, Lesson 2).
4. TSW demonstrate how a seismograph works (Chapter 4, Lesson 3).
5. TSW explain how to protect him/herself during an earthquake (Chapter 4, Lesson 2).
6. TSW summarize the evidence for volcanoes elsewhere in the solar system
(resource of your choice).
Key Terms:
 continental drift
 Pangaea
 fossil
 mid-ocean ridge
 sea-floor
spreading
 deep-ocean
trench
 subduction
 plate
 divergent
boundary
 convergent
boundary
 transform
boundary
 fault
 rift valley
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stress
tension
compression
shearing
plateau
earthquake
focus
epicenter
P wave
S wave
surface wave
seismograph
magnitude
Richter scale
seismogram
volcano
magma
lava
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SUGGESTED RESOURCES & RUBRIC FOUND ON FOLLOWING PAGES……….
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Ring of Fire
hot spot
pipe
vent
lava flow
crater silica
pyroclastic flow
dormant
extinct
caldera
cinder cone
shield volcano
volcanic neck
dike
sill
Suggested Materials:
 Interactive Science – Earth’s Structure – Chapters 3, 4, and 5
Suggested Unit Resources:
1. Lab Zone; fully editable CD-Rom; Chapter Lab Investigations, Inquiry Warm-Ups,
and Quick Labs (refer to Interactive Science – Earth’s Structure, page viii, ix, and
x for a specific list of labs available for this unit).
2. Lab Zone Inquiry skills for each lesson as suggested in Interactive Science –
Earth’s Structure, Contents, page viii, ix, and x).
3. Study Guide & Review and Assessment for Interactive Science – Earth’s Structure
Chapters 3, 4, and 5.
4. Untamed Science Video Series
5. Other ancillary materials, if available.
Technology Resources:
1. http://www.myscienceonline.com activities; The Big Question, Vocab Flash
Cards, Interactive Art, Planet Diary, Virtual Lab, Untamed Science, My Science
Coach, and My Reading Web. Use keywords ‘Plate Tectonics,’ ‘Earthquakes,’ and
‘Volcanoes.’
2. The Library’s online database – Destiny Webpath Express
3. http://www.unitedstreaming.com if your school has a membership.
4. http://www.iris.edu/seismon/
5. http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/quakes_all.html
6. Locate and epicenter activity http://www.aktsunami.com/lessons/5-
8/unit3/5-8_16LocatingTheEpicenter.pdf
Suggested Assessment Tools and Strategies:
1. Students make a three-dimensional model to explain continental drift and plate
tectonics (TSW 1-4).
2. Students keep a journal of observations, ideas, and findings reflecting on reading,
experiments, and class discussions (TSWs 1 - 10).
3. Students produce a ‘flipbook’ or animated video showing continental drift, heat
transfer within the Earth, and/or local seismic events (TSWs 1 - 10).
4. Students create a model of different types of faults and simulate earthquakes
(TSW’s 5 -7).
5. Students chart recent earthquakes and major volcanic eruptions on a world map
(TSWs 5-10).
6. Students write a report, create a poster, and/or give a class presentation on any of
the relevant topics (TSWs 1 - 10).
7. Students draw or make models of different types of volcanic landforms (TSW 10).
8. Teacher generated and/or published tests and assessments (TSWs 1 - 10).
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TSW
1 – Continental
Drift
Suggested Rubric for E04
‘A’ Level Mastery
‘B’ Level Mastery
Student is able to explain the evidence that
supports Wegener’s theory of continental
drift and describe its shortcomings.
2 – Sea floor
spreading
The student is able to connect this
information with what Wegener was
missing in his theory.
The student is able to describe how sea
floor spreading causes mid-ocean ridges.
3 – Subduction
and deep ocean
trenches
The student is able to describe the
effects of subduction on land and how
it and sea floor spreading changes the
size of the oceans.
The student is able to describe the process
of subduction.
4 – Plate
tectonics
The student is able to analyze the
forces at work in plate tectonics
regarding convection, mountain ranges
forming, earthquakes, volcanic activity
and continents moving as well as find
examples to illustrate each.
The student is able to explain the theory of
plate tectonics.
5 – Plate
boundaries
The student is able to illustrate the three
types of plate boundaries and label the
direction of movement in each.
6 – Fault lines
The student creates models of faults
that simulate the forces at work to
create folding, anticlines, sinclines and
fault block mountains.
The student will describe the three types of
faults as well as folding, anticlines,
sinclines and fault block mountains.
7 – Earthquakes
and seismic
waves
The student is able to differentiate
between the forces at work in different
types of seismic waves and explain
why they travel at different velocities.
The student is able to explain what causes
earthquakes, classify earthquake waves,
and define epicenter.
8 – Volcanic
activity
The student will illustrate and explain the
reasons for the volcanic acitivity occurring
recently on a world map.
9 – Types of
volcanoes
The student is able to connect magma
composition with the volatility of an
eruption.
10 – Scientific
Method
The student is able to analyze results,
The student responds to Lab Zone Inquiry
evaluate the validity of data, and pose
Skills or teacher designed activities with
additional questions and hypotheses
reasonable responses.
based on conclusions of an experiment.
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The student is able to diagram a volcano
and classify the different types of volcanic
eruptions. The student is able to define six
types of volcanic landforms.
To receive an ‘A’, the student must show ‘A’ level mastery in at least 4 of the 6
available TSW’s and ‘B’ level mastery on all of the remaining TSW’s.
To receive a ‘B’, the student must show ‘B’ level mastery on all ten TSW’s.
QSU 12/13 EARTH SCI E04
Copyright  1988-2011
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