Earth and Space Sciences
Plate Tectonics
Year 9
Earth and Space sciences: The theory of plate tectonics explains global patterns of geological activity and
continental movement (ACSSU180)
Science as Human Endeavour
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Scientific models, theories, processes, applications (ACSHE157). Technological advances through science (ACSHE158)
Use of science in improving people’s lives, generating new careers, and meeting societal needs. (ACSHE161)
Use science to evaluate claims or predictions (ACSHE160)
Values of society influence research (ACSHE228)
Scientific Inquiry Processes
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Formulate questions or hypotheses to investigate. (ACSIS164)
Plan, select and use appropriate investigation methods e.g. field and laboratory work. (ACSIS165)
Select and use appropriate equipment, to systematically collect and record data (ACSIS166)
Analyse patterns and trends in processing data e.g. relationships between variables (ACSIS169)
Use knowledge of scientific concepts to draw conclusions that are consistent with evidence (ACSIS170)
Evaluate conclusions, including possible alternative explanations. (ACSIS171)
Critically analyse the validity of information in secondary sources and evaluate the approaches used to solve problems (ACSIS172)
 Communicate scientific ideas and information, including using appropriate scientific language. (ACSIS174)
Knowledge and Understandings
Plate tectonics
Marine fossils can be found in
the rocks of mountainous regions
indicating that the land was once
under water.
The formation of mountains and
fossils could be related to the
cooling of the Earth. This can
also be related to the movement
of the continents or continental
drift.
The earth's crust consists of a
number of plates that are
constantly moving. This means
that new surface rocks are
continually being formed.
The moving of crustal plates is
associated with volcanoes and
earthquakes.
Heat from the outer core causes
convection currents in the mantle
resulting in the movement of the
crustal plates.
The continental plates consist of
huge masses of lighter rock that
float on the denser mantle rock.
The oceanic plates consist of
rock that is more dense but still
able to float on the mantle.
Learning Program
Plate tectonics
Purpose: Students understand how the movement of plate tectonics
change the geography of the Earth and create certain geographical
formations.
Inform – Motivation: Have you ever travelled to inland areas where sea
shells and the remains of other marine creatures can be found? These
remains are often found in cliffs and very dry areas such as the opal fields in
South Australia. How would you guess that these fossilised remains came to
be in these areas?
What does this action tell us about the movement of the Earth's surface?
The crust of the Earth is constantly moving.
Find out what is meant by the terms 'continental drift', 'crustal plates' and
'the theory of plate tectonics'
Examine Figure 6.2 on page 28 Science Outcomes Book 3. Describe what
this figure illustrates.
Research: Research what causes the plate movements on the Earth's
surface. Compare the structure and features of continental and oceanic
plates.
Refer to pages 29-34, Science Outcomes Book 3. Prepare a report on the
types of movement of plates- colliding, separating and sliding past. Refer to
diagrams to describe the location, resulting changes and examples of these
forms of plate movement. Include a description of the movements of the
continents in your report.
Carry out the activity on page 34 Science Outcomes Book 3.
Summary questions 1-3, Interpretation questions 2, 3, Thinking About
questions 1, 2, Investigating questions 1-3, page 35 Science Outcomes
Book 3.
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This is an ERS plan and is NOT endorsed by ACARA. Green font is ACARA sourced materials. Go to: http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au
* © Education Services Australia
Plate Tectonics
Students will identify the three
layers of the earth: core, mantle
and crust and demonstrate
knowledge of the concepts of
convergent and divergent
motions of the earth.
The Indian and the Eurasian
continental plates are in collision.
Rocks between the two plates
are forced upwards to form the
Himalayan mountain chain.
When an oceanic plate is in
collision with a continental plate
the oceanic plate is forced
beneath the continental plate.
This is called subduction and it
occurs in a subduction zone.
Separation zones are where
plates are moving apart.
Separation of oceanic plates
occurs along the mid-ocean
ridges.
In some areas of the world plates
are moving past each other. The
movement occurs along fault
lines.
Along time ago the present
continents were joined together.
As a super continent called
Pangaea.
The movement of the crust led to
the formation of two continents
called Gondwana and Laurasia.
Investigate: Moving Earth investigation: 3 pieces of different coloured
sponge rubber 10 cm x 30 cm, 2 thin strips of polystyrene foam 6.0 cm x 30
cm, 3 different coloured plasticine strips, 2 sheets of paper, talc powder.
Procedure:
 Place one hand on each end of a flat piece of paper.
 Push the hands towards each other.
 What do you observe?
 Grasp a piece of polystyrene at each end and stretch it outwards.
 What happened? Weaken the sheet with a row of pin holes across it
and repeat the action.
 Why did the sheet break at that point?
 Weaken the other sheet and apply a compression force by pushing
from both ends.
 Compare the results from these two actions.
 Place three strips of different coloured foam one on top of each other.
 Which layer of foam represents the layer of oldest rock? The youngest
layer of rock?
 Fold the layers in the ways shown in the diagrams.
 What happens to the youngest layer in each case?
 Which layer is on the bottom in the last example?
 Place three layers of different coloured plasticine one on top of each
other. Sprinkle talc powder between each layer to prevent them from
sticking together. Remember the order in which you laid them.
 Fold the layers in any way that you wish but remember how many
folds you make.
 Cut the ends off the layers so that the order of folding can not be
seen.
 Challenge another group to determine how the layers were folded.
 Image a volcano has formed. Push a pencil up through the folds from
the below until a bulge appears on the surface. Fill the pencil hole with
different coloured plasticine.
Questions:
 What is the result of applying forces to brittle rocks?
 Compare this result with what happened when a force was applied to
a more flexible rock.
 Use diagrams to show the direction of the forces acting and the
movement that occurs in a normal fault, a reverse fault, a lateral fault,
a step fault, a horst and the formation of a rift valley.
Modelling Plate Tectonics
Activity: Students investigate the four different ways tectonic plates interact
at their boundaries. Using simple available materials, they create models to
simulate these interactions present at plate boundaries.
Generalize
Plate Tectonics: Movin’ and Shakin’
Lesson Plan: Students are introduced to the causes of plate movements and
the hazards they present. They plot the location of 50 earthquakes and 50
volcanic eruptions on a map and explore the relationships between plate
tectonics, earthquakes, and volcanoes. In the final activity, they test the
effect of volcanic gases on the growth of plants.
L10327 Tectonics investigator: plate movement: assessment
Learning Object Education Services Australia The Le@rning Federation
Test your understanding of tectonic plate movement. Use animations and
images to help you answer a series of questions dealing with evidence of
plate movement. Interpret data from magnetic surveys of divergent zones, as
well as patterns derived from hotspot traces. View and print a report on your
© Education Research Solutions T: 1300 669 810 E: contactus@educationresearch.com.au W: www.educationresearch.com.au
This is an ERS plan and is NOT endorsed by ACARA. Green font is ACARA sourced materials. Go to: http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au
* © Education Services Australia
work. This assessment object is one in a series of two objects. *
http://www.scootle.edu.au/ec/objectLink.action?action=content&id=L10327
Assessment: Perform a simulation of plate tectonics
Standards
http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/Science/Curriculum/F-10?y=9&s=SU&s=HE&s=IS&layout=1
Teacher Resources IWB T
Earth Science Website with a large menu of useful information
The ABCs of Plate Tectonics
Earth's Continental Plates
Earthquakes & Plate Tectonics
Earth Floor: Plate Tectonics
This Dynamic Earth
Volcanoes Online: Plate Tectonics games, lessons and links.
Student Resources IWB S
Plate Tectonics Interactive student activities
Geography World - Plate Tectonics/Continental Drift Flashcards, matching, and word search games - plate
tectonics.
© Education Research Solutions T: 1300 669 810 E: contactus@educationresearch.com.au W: www.educationresearch.com.au
This is an ERS plan and is NOT endorsed by ACARA. Green font is ACARA sourced materials. Go to: http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au
* © Education Services Australia
Lesson Planner
Lesson
Teacher Notes
Student Activities
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© Education Research Solutions T: 1300 669 810 E: contactus@educationresearch.com.au W: www.educationresearch.com.au
This is an ERS plan and is NOT endorsed by ACARA. Green font is ACARA sourced materials. Go to: http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au
* © Education Services Australia