• This Dynamic Earth lesson is just one small part of my
Geology Topics Unit that I offer on TpT for ($9.99). This
unit includes…
• A six part 3,700 Slide PowerPoint Presentation / unit
roadmap full of activities, review questions, games, video
links, flashcards, materials list, and much more.
• A 18 bundled homework package, modified version, 19
pages of unit notes, 6 PowerPoint Review Games of
100+ slides each, videos, rubrics, and much more that
all chronologically follow the unit slideshow.
• This is a fantastic unit for any Earth Science Class.
• http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/GeologyUnit-Homework-Exams-and-3700-Slide-PowerPoint
• RED SLIDE: These are notes that are very
important and should be recorded in your
science journal.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
-Nice neat notes that are legible and use indentations
when appropriate.
.
-Nice neat notes that are legible and use indentations
when appropriate.
-Example of indent.
-Nice neat notes that are legible and use indentations
when appropriate.
-Example of indent.
-Skip a line between topics
-Nice neat notes that are legible and use indentations
when appropriate.
-Example of indent.
-Skip a line between topics
-Don’t skip pages
-Nice neat notes that are legible and use indentations
when appropriate.
-Example of indent.
-Skip a line between topics
-Don’t skip pages
-Make visuals clear and well drawn.
-Nice neat notes that are legible and use indentations
when appropriate.
-Example of indent.
-Skip a line between topics
-Don’t skip pages
-Make visuals clear and well drawn.
First Name, Last Name
Science and Section
• RED SLIDE: These are notes that are very
important and should be recorded in your
science journal.
• BLACK SLIDE: Pay attention, follow
directions, complete projects as described
and answer required questions neatly.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
Copyright ©
© 2010
2010 Ryan
Ryan P.
P. Murphy
Murphy
Copyright
• Activity! Please make a puzzle from a
magazine page. Puzzle should be no
more than 20 pieces.
• Activity! Please make a puzzle from a
magazine page. Puzzle should be no
more than 20 pieces.
– Example on next slide.
• Activity! Please make a puzzle from a
magazine page. Puzzle should be no
more than 20 pieces.
– Example on next slide.
– Trade puzzles with a person near you and try
to solve their puzzle upon completion.
• Questions
– What strategies did you use to complete the
puzzle?
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
Question? Look at the map below, do see
any puzzle pieces, if so were would they fit?
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
Possible Answers!
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
Possible Answers!
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

Area of Focus: Plate Tectonics
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

Plate tectonics: The earth’s crust and
upper mantle are broken into sections
called plates.
 These
plates float on the mantle like rafts
(moving very slowly)
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

Plate tectonics: The earth’s crust and
upper mantle are broken into sections
called plates.
 These
plates float on the mantle like rafts
(moving very slowly)
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

Continental Drift: The gradual movement
of the continents across the earth.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• The speed at which the plates move is about
the speed at which your fingernails grow.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Video! Plate Tectonics.
– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryrXAGY1dmE
• In 1915, The German geologist Alfred
Wegener (1880-1930) proposed continental
drift.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• In 1915, The German geologist Alfred
Wegener (1880-1930) proposed continental
drift. Not accepted until the 1950’s!
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• In 1915, The German geologist Alfred
Wegener (1880-1930) proposed continental
drift. Not accepted until 1950’s!
“I say.” “Africa and South
America fit strangely like
two puzzle pieces.”
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

Evidence for continental drift.
-
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

The shapes match.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Activity! Google Earth. Looking more in
depth at the puzzle fit.
– Download at
http://www.google.com/earth/index.html
– Continental shelf
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

Same fossils found on different continents
 These
are the pictures on the puzzle pieces.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Same fossils found on different continents
– These are the pictures on the puzzle pieces.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
“Did you line up
the pictures on
the magazine
page to help
you figure out
the puzzle”

The Same rock structures on different
continents
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• You can now complete this question on
the bundled homework.
• You can now complete this question on
the bundled homework.
• You can now complete this question on
the bundled homework.
• What is this a fossil of?
– Where would you expect to find a specimen
like this on the planet?
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Answer! This is a fossilized tropical plant
found on Antarctica.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Answer! This is a fossilized tropical plant
found on Antarctica.
– Remember, the continents have moved and
Antarctica use to be in a warmer climate.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Answer! This is a fossilized tropical plant
found on Antarctica.
– Remember, the continents have moved and
Antarctica use to be in a warmer climate.
“Darn you
continental Drift.”
“Darn you.”
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

Fossils of plants and animals in Antarctica
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

Magnetic layers in sea floor spreading
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Magnetic layers in sea floor spreading
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• The magnetic poles can shift “fairly”
suddenly on this planet.
– Right now, North is in the Arctic, the North
Pole could shift to someplace else.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• The magnetic poles can shift “fairly”
suddenly on this planet.
– Right now, North is in the Arctic, the North
Pole could shift to someplace else.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• The magnetic poles can shift “fairly”
suddenly on this planet.
– Right now, North is in the Arctic, the North
Pole could shift to someplace else.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Iron within cooling molten rock orients itself
to the poles before hardening.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Iron within cooling molten rock orients itself
to the poles before hardening.
– The ocean floor shows evidence of a changing
magnetic field, and sea-floor spreading.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Iron within cooling molten rock orients itself
to the poles before hardening.
– The ocean floor shows evidence of a changing
magnetic field, and sea-floor spreading.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Each new layers of the earth from sea-floor
spreading orients to the Magnetic field at
that time just before cooling.
• Behold the Supercontinent! Pangea
?
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Behold the Supercontinent! Pangea
Applause!
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Behold the Supercontinent! Pangea
End Applause!
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

Pangea: The “Super Continent”
 All
of the plates were once together.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

Pangea: The “Super Continent”
 All
of the plates were once together.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
 Gondwondaland
and Laurasia were two mega
continents before Pangea.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Activity! Recreating Pangea with cutouts
of the continental plates.
• Activity! Recreating Pangea with cutouts
of the continental plates.
• Activity! Recreating Pangea with cutouts
of the continental plates.
• Activity! Recreating Pangea with cutouts
of the continental plates.
• Activity! Recreating Pangea with cutouts
of the continental plates.
• Activity! Recreating Pangea with cutouts
of the continental plates (Sheet Provided)
• Activity! Recreating Pangea with cutouts
of the continental plates (Sheet Provided)
– Please use the animation on the next slide to
practice creating Pangea and then moving
the continents to their current location.
• Activity! Recreating Pangea with cutouts
of the continental plates (Sheet Provided)
– Please use the animation on the next slide to
practice creating Pangea and then moving
the continents to their current location.
– Then go back to Pangea and back to current
day until you can do it without the animation.
• Current Day + or – 4mm
• You can now complete this question on
the bundled homework.
• What causes continental drift and plate
tectonics?
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• This Dynamic Earth lesson is just one small part of my
Geology Topics Unit that I offer on TpT for ($9.99). This
unit includes…
• A six part 3,700 Slide PowerPoint Presentation / unit
roadmap full of activities, review questions, games, video
links, flashcards, materials list, and much more.
• A 18 bundled homework package, modified version, 19
pages of unit notes, 6 PowerPoint Review Games of
100+ slides each, videos, rubrics, and much more that
all chronologically follow the unit slideshow.
• This is a fantastic unit for any Earth Science Class.
• http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/GeologyUnit-Homework-Exams-and-3700-Slide-PowerPoint