José Pérez - Science
University of Arkansas
College of Education
Lesson Plan Format
COE Course 4123
Unit Title: Dynamic Earth
Subject Area: Earth Science
Lesson Title: Plate Tectonics
Grade Level: 6
I.
Pre-assessment and Planning
Earth’s Structure handout from previous day will reveal students’ understanding of the layers of the earth
and functions lithosphere convection.
II.
Objective(s)
Students will be able to analyze and interpret data from a map of plate structures to provide evidence of
past plate motions and predict future plate motions.
MS-ESS2-3 Analyze and interpret data on the distribution of fossils and rocks, continental shapes, and
seafloor structures to provide evidence of the past plate motions.
III.
Assessment
Plate Tectonics Handout
IV.
Engaging the Learner
Show Earthquakes 101 video from YouTube.
What is an earthquake? Did you ever think the ground would move? If you ever lived in California or
other places where earthquakes are common, then yes, but the rest of you? Why does the ground move?
Today’s lesson is going to explore the theory of plate tectonics.
Real world example: Think about a bathtub and a rubber duck. When the water is calm the rubber duck
doesn’t move. Pretend the rubber duck represents the earth’s crust. If you make the water (mantle) move
then the rubber duck will also move. Right?
V.
Methods, Activities and Resources
Methods
The teacher will guide students along the Egg Activity. Explaining that the shell of the egg represents the
earth’s crust, the teacher will have students crack the shell to further demonstrate that the earth’s crust is
not one solid piece. Plate movement will be demonstrated by having the students wiggle around some of
the pieces. The teacher will ask what happened to the other pieces as one moved. Use this example to
relate to plate boundaries and plate movement.
Activities
Egg Activity
José Pérez - Science
Each student will receive one hardboiled egg. Instruct the students to lightly tap the egg on the table so
that the shell cracks. Have students mark the edges of the cracks with a marker. The shell represents the
earth’s crust. The earth’s crust is made up of plates (pieces of shell). Have students wiggle some of the
pieces around and have them notice what happens to the other pieces. Students are witnessing Plate
Tectonics in a very small scale.
Now that students have an idea of what the Earth’s crust is like. Have them work in pairs to complete the
Plate Tectonics handout using the Plate Tectonics Interactive.
Resources
Egg, Marker
Earthquakes 101
Mini-laptops
Plate Tectonics Handout
Hoyle (2009). Plate Tectonics. Mr. Hoyle’s science page [pdf]. Retrieved from
http://rhoyle.cusd.claremont.edu/mm/Course%20Assets/Marine%20Biology/Assignments/pdf%2
0-%20Plate%20Tectonics%20worksheet.pdf
National Geographic (2011, March 11). Earthquakes 101 [Video File]. Retrieved from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSgB1IWr6O4
Plate Tectonics (2007). Annenberg Learner [Interactive]. Retrieved from
http://www.learner.org/interactives/dynamicearth/structure.html
Subbaraman, Nidhl (2013). Pakistan earthquake creates new island, ‘mud volcano’ to blame. NBC News.
Retrieved from http://www.nbcnews.com/science/pakistan-earthquake-creates-new-island-mudvolcano-blame-4B11248003
VI.
Potential Adaptations to the Lesson {PAL}
If students are too disorderly, have students observe while the teacher performs the egg activity.
Students that have trouble completing tasks on time may need to be provided with time cues.
Allow 20 minutes for Handout Activity. Give time cues at 10 minutes, 15 minutes and 18
minutes.
VII.
Collaboration
Have students look in news articles to find news about how plate tectonics has affected the world in
recent years. (No more than 5 years old) Example NBC News article Pakistan earthquake creates new
island.
VIII. Reflection and efficacy (to be completed after teaching this lesson)
José Pérez - Science
Plate Tectonics
Convergent
Compression
Convergent
Compression
Divergent
Tension
Divergent
Tension
Transform
Shearing
Convergent
Compression
Transform
Shearing
Divergent
Tension
Convergent
Compression
Transform
Shearing
Plate boundaries
When plate boundaries meet, plate material is pushed downward and thus recycled.
If Tectonic plate movement continues the continents will eventually be pushed back together.
If the Earth’s core cools then convection will cease to occur, plate movement will stop.
Plate boundaries can come together – Convergent Boundary; Plate boundaries can pull away from each
other – Divergent Boundary; and Plate boundaries can rub against each other – Transform Boundary