Earth Science
Lab Activity
Name:
Date:
Period:
Snackin’ Plate Tectonics
Purpose of Activity: To model the interactions of Earth’s lithosphere (tectonic plates) as they slowly
move on the Earth’s mantle (asthenosphere), through the use of snack foods.
Background for Activity: The theory of plate tectonics says that the crust of the Earth is composed of
separate plates which “float” on the hot, plastic mantle. At the boundaries between the plates, the plates
may collide, diverge, subduct, or slip past one another.
Review the map of “Major Tectonic Plates.” Review vocabulary related to plate boundaries.
Materials for Activity: per group of 2
One sheet of graham cracker (4 crackers)
½ of a Fruit Roll Up (cut in 2)
Spoon
1 spoon of frosting
Piece of wax paper
Glass of water
Snack food key:
Graham cracker = continental crust
Fruit Roll Up = oceanic crust
Frosting = asthenosphere
YOU WILL NEED COLORED PENCILS TO COMPLETE YOUR DATA TABLES!!!
Bring those to class tomorrow.
WASH YOUR HANDS BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER THIS LAB ACTIVITY!
Procedures for Activity:
 Read the directions carefully before performing each step.
 You are responsible for completing all data tables (colored drawings and descriptions)
and all comprehension questions (in complete sentences).
 You are responsible for all clean up…you may eat the materials at the end of class.
Data Tables and Comprehension Questions:
Data tables are to contain before and after drawings. All drawings should be colored and each
component of the drawing should be labeled as to what it represents. It may work better to turn the
paper sideways when doing the drawings. “Changes that occurred” can be done as phrases or
bulleted lists. All comprehension questions are to be answered in complete sentences.
For the activity we used snack foods to model plate movements. Fill in the key with the colors
you will use in your drawings.
Asthenosphere = Frosting = ______________________
Continental Crust = Graham Cracker = _________________________
Oceanic Crust = Fruit Roll Up = ____________________________
I.
Divergent Plate Boundary-Oceanic Crust/Oceanic Crust
Spread out the asthenosphere with a spoon. Lay 2 pieces of oceanic crust side by side, with
the long sides touching. Do the before diagram! Gently press down on the crust as you pull
them away from each other. Do the after diagram! Scrape any asthenosphere off the crust
and gently lay the pieces of oceanic crust to the side.
Before Diagram
(overhead view)
After Diagram
(side view)
Describe the changes that
occurred
1. What happens to the molten rock as two pieces of crust move away from each other?
2. If new crust is being created at these divergent boundaries, why isn’t the earth
expanding? (You might want to answer this after the next step)
3. Where on the earth would you expect to find this type of movement? Describe a specific
location from the map we looked at in class.
II.
Transform Plate Boundary-Continental Crust/Continental Crust
Spread out the asthenosphere with a spoon. Lay 2 pieces of continental crust side by side,
with the long sides touching. Do the before diagram! Slide one piece of crust towards you
and one piece of crust away from you, making sure that the long sides are “rubbing” as you
are sliding. Do the after diagram-overhead view! Scrape any asthenosphere off the crust and
gently lay the pieces of continental crust to the side.
Before Diagram
(overhead view)
After Diagram
(overhead view)
Describe the changes that
occurred
1. What happens to edges of the crust as the plates move?
2. What type of geologic even occurs as a result of this type of plate movement?
3. Where on the earth would you expect to find this type of movement? Describe a specific
location from the map we looked at in class.
III.
Convergent Plate Boundary-Oceanic Crust /Oceanic Crust
Spread out the asthenosphere with a spoon. Lay 2 pieces of oceanic crust side by side, with
the long sides touching. Do the before diagram! Gently press down on the crust as you slide
one piece under the other. Do the after diagram! Leave one piece of oceanic crust on the
asthenosphere. You may eat the other piece after scraping any extra asthenosphere off of it.
Before Diagram
(overhead view)
After Diagram
(side view)
Describe the changes that
occurred
1. What happened to the one piece oceanic crust?
2. Did the process happen smoothly? Would this affect humans?
3. Where on the earth would you expect to find this type of movement? Describe a specific
location from the map we looked at in class.
IV.
Convergent Plate Boundary-Oceanic Crust /Continental Crust
Spread out the asthenosphere with a spoon. Lay 1 piece of continental crust next to the
oceanic crust, with the long sides touching. Do the before diagram! Gently press down on
the oceanic crust as you slide it under the continental crust. Do the after diagram! Pick up
the remaining piece of oceanic crust and eat it. Scrape the asthenosphere off of the
continental crust and put it to the side.
Before Diagram
(overhead view)
After Diagram
(side view)
Describe the changes that
occurred
1. What happened along the margins of the oceanic and continental crust?
2. What results at this type of plate interaction?
3. Where on the earth would you expect to find this type of movement? Describe a
specific location from the map we looked at in class.
V.
Convergent Plate Boundary-Continental Crust /Continental Crust
Spread out the asthenosphere with a spoon. Lay 1 piece of continental crust next to the
oceanic crust, with the long sides touching. Do the before diagram! Gently press down on
the oceanic crust as you slide it under the continental crust. Do the after diagram! Pick up
the remaining piece of oceanic crust and eat it. Scrape the asthenosphere off of the
continental crust and put it to the side.
Before Diagram
(overhead view)
After Diagram
(side view)
Describe the changes that
occurred
4. What happened along the margins of the continental crust?
5. What is the geologic result of this crustal motion?
6. Where on the earth would you expect to find this type of movement? Describe a
specific location from the map we looked at in class.