Pangaea Project:
Ø Obtain copies of the Pangaea cutouts. Cut out the continents and color
each continent a different color. Neatly label each continent so that it
will be readable when displayed from a distance.
Ø Using the idea of a jigsaw puzzle piece the parts together into one
landmass to best represent what Pangaea might have looked like 190
million years ago. Remember that the continents have been sliding apart
or together over many millions of years. When you are satisfied with
their arrangement, you should neatly glue your arrangement onto a piece
of construction paper. Provide an artistic title across the top of your
paper that states “Pangaea”. This should also be readable from a
distance.
Ø Do some research to compile information about Pangaea and Alfred
Wegener, the originator of the theory of continental drift. On your
typed information sheet you should include the following:
1) Who was Alfred Wegener and what did he theorize?
2) What kind of information or items did he use to support his theory?
3) What was Pangaea?
4) What is the main mineral type that Continental plates are made up
of? 5) What is the main mineral type that Oceanic plates are made up of?
6) What causes the plates to move? What layer of the Earth makes up
these plates and what layer are the continents sliding on?
7) Why do you think our planets continents look the way they do today?
8) Include any pictures or other information that you feel will help
polish your project.
Yes, spelling and grammar do count on your typed information grade. Be sure
to spell check and have someone proof read it before you print and mount
your information.
Mount this information sheet onto another sheet of construction paper and
then attach it to the bottom of your Pangaea map creation. Be ready to
display your project.
Helpful Research Links:
Tectonic Plates and Alfred Wegner
http://www.tqnyc.org/NYC040622/tectonicplates.html
Alfred Wegner Biography
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/history/wegener.html
Color-Coded Continents
http://wrgis.wr.usgs.gov/docs/usgsnps/pltec/scplseqai.html
What on Earth Is Plate Tectonics?
http://wrgis.wr.usgs.gov/docs/usgsnps/pltec/pltec1.html
Understanding Plate Motions
http://pubs.usgs.gov/publications/text/understanding.html
Plate Tectonics
http://scign.jpl.nasa.gov/learn/plate.htm
On the Move
http://kids.earth.nasa.gov/archive/pangaea/
Discovering Plate Boundaries
http://www.geophysics.rice.edu/plateboundary/TGpart1_notes.pdf
This Dynamic Earth: The Story of Plate Tectonics
http://pubs.usgs.gov/publications/text/dynamic.html
Rubric Continental Map Rubric
Date: _______ Class: _______
Name: _____________________________________
NI = Needs Improvement,
G = Good,
E = Excellent
2
points
Description of Alfred
Wegener and what did he
theorize included on poster.
2 (E)
1 (G)
0 (NI)
2
points
Examples of the kind of
information or items he use to
2 (E)
support his theory are
included on poster.
1 (G)
0 (NI)
1 point
Description of what Pangaea
was included.
1 (E)
0.5 (G) 0(NI)
2 (E)
1 (G)
1 (E)
0.5 (G) 0 (NI)
2 (E)
1 (G)
0 (NI)
2 (E)
1 (G)
0 (NI)
2
points
Description of the main
mineral type that Continental
plates and the main mineral
type that Oceanic plates are
made up of included.
Explanation of what causes
the plates to move and what
1 point layer of the Earth make up
these plates and what layer
are the continents sliding on?
2
points
Personal idea about why you
think our planets continents
look the way they do today?
2
points
-
Map Layout
Neatness
Legend / labeled / colored
Spelling/ Grammar
Totals
0 (NI)
Total Score _____/12